not enough to go around; too many people for too few resources
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
not enough to go around; too many people competing for too few resources
Originally describing a situation with many monks but only a little porridge to share. Used metaphorically for any scenario where demand greatly exceeds supply, especially when many people compete for limited benefits, jobs, or goods.
Zhè这
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
dài待
yù遇
hěn很
hǎo好
，
dàn但
míng名
é额
yǒu有
xiàn限
，
zhēn真
shì是
sēng僧
duō多
zhōu粥
shǎo少
。
This job offers great benefits, but there are limited openings—truly a case of too many people chasing too few spots.
Chūn春
jié节
huǒ火
chē车
piào票
yī一
piào票
nán难
qiú求
，
chéng呈
xiàn现
chū出
sēng僧
duō多
zhōu粥
shǎo少
de的
jú局
miàn面
。
Train tickets during the Spring Festival are extremely hard to get, presenting a situation where demand far outstrips supply.
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Jiǎng奖
xué学
jīn金
zhī只
yǒu有
sān三
gè个
míng名
é额
，
shēn申
qǐng请
zhě者
què却
yǒu有
wǔ五
shí十
rén人
，
zhēn真
shì是
sēng僧
duō多
zhōu粥
shǎo少
。
There are only three scholarship slots but fifty applicants—truly not enough to go around.