Chinese word

余地

Pronunciation

Pinyinyú dì

Meaning

  • nounroom

Example

为了安全，我们要留一点余地。wèi le ān quán wǒ men yào liú yì diǎn yú dì

For safety, we need to leave a little room.

Illustration for 余地 (room)

More examples

完成这项任务的时间几乎没有余地。wán chéng zhè xiàng rèn wù de shí jiān jī hū méi yǒu yú dì

We have almost no room left to complete this task.

Core concept

Space left beside a plan or decision keeps it adjustable instead of final.

Common phrases

  • 给对方留余地gěi duì fāng liú yú dì

    leave the other person some room

  • 留有余地liú yǒu yú dì

    leave room

  • 没有余地méi yǒu yú dì

    have no room

Similar words

回旋余地huí xuán yú dì: Leaves room to change a response, position, or decision while handling a matter.
调整余地tiáo zhěng yú dì: Leaves room to alter or make small changes to a plan, policy, or arrangement.
变通余地biàn tōng yú dì: Leaves room to adapt a method or means to fit changing circumstances.

Definition in Chinese

在行动、决定或安排中，表示可以调整、变通或保留选择的空间或可能性。zài xíng dòng jué dìng huò ān pái zhōng biǎo shì ké yǐ tiáo zhěng biàn tōng huò bǎo liú xuǎn zé de kōng jiān huò kě néng xìng

Word origin

余 (yú, "surplus") + 地 (dì, "space") forms the idea of space left over, which extends naturally to flexibility in a plan or decision.

Usage tips

  • In a refusal or negotiation, saying that a position leaves flexibility signals that reconsideration remains possible, while saying none remains makes the decision sound final.

Opposites

Word lists with this word