逊色 xùnsè inferior
inferior (often in the combination 毫无逊色, not in the least inferior)
How to remember 逊色: 逊 humble + 色 color = inferior.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Inferior, not as good' - almost always in comparisons - 与名牌相比毫不逊色 (yǔ míngpái xiāngbǐ háobú xùnsè) not the least bit inferior to brand names.
- Strongly collocates with 毫不 / 毫无 (háobù/háowú, not at all) to praise something as holding its own: 'no worse than'.
- Written register; you rarely say something simply 'is' 逊色 without a comparison target.