better than nothing; preferable to nothing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
better than nothing; preferable to nothing at all
neutralUsed to express that although something is not ideal or sufficient, it is still preferable to having nothing. Often used to console oneself or others in situations of scarcity or disappointment.
Zhè这
diǎn点
qián钱
suī虽
rán然
bù不
duō多
，
dàn但
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
。
Although this amount of money is not much, it's better than nothing.
Zhè这
gè个
jiù旧
shǒu手
jī机
suī虽
rán然
màn慢
，
dàn但
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
。
This old phone is slow, but it's better than nothing.
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Yǒu有
zhè这
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
zǒng总
bǐ比
méi没
yǒu有
hǎo好
，
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
ma嘛
。
Having this job is better than having none; it's better than nothing.
Suī虽
rán然
jiǎng奖
pǐn品
zhǐ只
shì是
yī一
zhī支
bǐ笔
，
dàn但
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
。
Although the prize is just a pen, it's better than nothing.