income insufficient to cover expenses; unable to make ends meet
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be unable to make ends meet; to live beyond one's means; income failing to cover expenses
formalA four-character idiom (chengyu) describing a financial deficit where expenditures exceed income. Often used to describe individuals, families, or organizations operating at a loss. The structure '入不敷出' literally means 'income does not suffice for outgoings'.
Yóu由
yú于
jīng经
yíng营
bù不
shàn善
，
zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
yǐ已
jīng经
lián连
xù续
sān三
nián年
rù入
bù不
fū敷
chū出
。
Due to poor management, this company has been operating at a loss for three consecutive years.
Tā他
huā花
qián钱
dà大
shǒu手
dà大
jiǎo脚
，
měi每
gè个
yuè月
dōu都
rù入
bù不
fū敷
chū出
，
bù不
dé得
bù不
xiàng向
péng朋
yǒu友
jiè借
qián钱
。
He spends money extravagantly, living beyond his means every month, and has to borrow money from friends.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
gè个
dī低
shōu收
rù入
jiā家
tíng庭
cháng常
cháng常
rù入
bù不
fū敷
chū出
，
lián连
jī基
běn本
de的
shēng生
huó活
fèi费
yòng用
dōu都
nán难
yǐ以
zhī支
fù付
。
This low-income family often cannot make ends meet, struggling even to pay for basic living expenses.