make up the number; serve as a stopgap
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to make up the number; to serve as a stopgap
neutralOften implies using something or someone of lower quality just to meet a quota or fill a required number.
Zhù注
zhòng重
zhì质
liàng量
，
jué决
bù不
néng能
ná拿
wěi伪
liè劣
chǎn产
pǐn品
dǐ抵
shù数
。
Focus on quality; we must never use shoddy products just to make up the number.
Rén人
shù数
bù不
gòu够
，
xiān先
zhǎo找
jǐ几
gè个
shí实
xí习
shēng生
lái来
dǐ抵
shù数
。
We're short on staff, so let's get a few interns to fill in for now.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
xiē些
jiù旧
shè设
bèi备
zhǐ只
shì是
zàn暂
shí时
dǐ抵
shù数
，
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
huì会
bèi被
tì替
huàn换
diào掉
。
These old machines are just a temporary stopgap; they'll be replaced soon.