宁缺毋滥 nìngquēwúlàn better to have nothing than something shoddy Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 宁 寧 nìng adverb would rather would rather; to prefer; would sooner缺 quē verb to lack to be short of; to run short of; to lack something that should be present毋 wú do not (literary) used to prohibit or discourage an action, meaning "do not" or "must not"; equivalent to 不要 bùyào or 别 bié滥 濫 làn verb excessive; indiscriminate (bound form) excessive; immoderate; indiscriminate; without limit or control