宁缺毋滥 nìng quē wú làn

DEFINITIONS

  1. better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option

CHARACTERS

宁 nìng
HSK 5
calm, peaceful, serene; healthy
缺 quē
HSK 4
be short of, lack; gap, deficit
毋 wú do not; not; surname; rad. 80
滥 làn
HSK 6
flood, overflow; excessive