No shortage of money

不差钱 (bú chà qián): no shortage of money

Still from the 2009 sketch “No Shortage of Money.” (Source: Wikipedia)

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/// Famous skit performed by Zhao Benshan, Bi Fujian, Xiao Shenyang, and Maomao. The performance was broadcast by CCTV during their annual Chinese New Year program in 2009. Zhao Benshan portrays a poor farmer who enters an expensive Scottish restaurant, claiming that he has “no shortage of money.” In order to impress his guest, Zhao colludes with the waiter, asking help him not to offer any expensive dishes.

“No shortage of money” is a sarcastic phrase signifying its polar opposite. The term is also used by government officials while pledging to take care of problems by allocating funds. Netizens have pointed out that officials often say they have “no shortage of money,” when in reality, they have no intention of providing any real solutions.