HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
缺
quē
lack
HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
缺
quē
scarce
HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
缺
quē
vacant post
HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
缺
quē
to run short of
HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
缺
quē
to lack, to be short; vacancy, gap, deficit
HSK 4, v, 10 strokes, radical 缶, rank #2988, Medium
quē(que1) T1
1deficiency
2lack
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March 24, 2026
缺quē(que1)
The character 缺 (quē) refers to a deficiency or lack of something. It is commonly used to describe situations where something is missing or insufficient, such as resources, time, or even personal qualities. In contexts like job postings, it can indicate a vacancy or an open position that needs to be filled.
Strokes10Radical缶Frequency#2988DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 缺 is often associated with the idea of balance and harmony. For instance, the absence of certain elements in a meal or a gathering could symbolize imbalance, promoting the idea that completeness is essential for social harmony.
Memory Tip
Think of 缺 (quē) as a 'gap' in a wall where something is missing. The left side of the character has the radical for cloth (巾), reminding you of a patch that could cover a deficiency, while the right side (欠) looks like a person with arms outstretched, indicating what is lacking.
Meanings of 缺
quē(que1)
1deficiency
2lack
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 缺
缺Simplified
10Strokes
缶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2988Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 缺
Podcast: 缺
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AI Study Notes for 缺
Quick Contrast
缺 (quē) vs 不足 (bùzú) — use 缺 when emphasizing something is missing entirely, while 不足 refers to something being insufficient or inadequate.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 缺 (quē) as a 'gap' in a wall where something is missing. The left side of the character has the radical for cloth (巾), reminding you of a patch that could cover a deficiency, while the right side (欠) looks like a person with arms outstretched, indicating what is lacking.
Usage Notes
When using 缺, remember it often appears in phrases like 缺乏 (quēfá, to lack) or 缺席 (quēxí, to be absent). A common mistake is to use 缺 interchangeably with 不足 (bùzú, insufficient), but 缺 usually implies something is missing entirely rather than just insufficient.
HSK Study Tips
While 缺 is not in the HSK list, it connects with other vocabulary about deficiency or absence at higher levels. Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases, which will help expand your understanding of related concepts like scarcity.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 缺 is often associated with the idea of balance and harmony. For instance, the absence of certain elements in a meal or a gathering could symbolize imbalance, promoting the idea that completeness is essential for social harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 缺 with 不足 (bùzú, insufficient). For example, saying '他不足时间' (Tā bùzú shíjiān) is incorrect; instead, use '他缺时间' (Tā quē shíjiān) to indicate a lack of time.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缺
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Grammar Patterns of 缺
缺 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Their health-care system suffers from queues, shortages and ropey equipment.
Cultural Notes for 缺
💡Did you know?
The character '缺' is derived from the pictorial representation of a jar that is missing its lid, symbolizing a lack or deficiency. In ancient China, jars were used to store grains and food, and a jar without a lid represented scarcity.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 缺 is often associated with the idea of balance and harmony. For instance, the absence of certain elements in a meal or a gathering could symbolize imbalance, promoting the idea that completeness is essential for social harmony.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many cultures, a lack or deficiency often symbolizes an opportunity for growth or improvement. In Chinese culture, the concept of '缺' can also lead to the idea of '补' (to fill or make up for), indicating a positive approach to overcoming shortages.
Word Family of 缺
Words Containing This Character20
缺quēlack
缺乏quēfáto lack
缺少quēshǎolack
缺点quēdiǎnfault缺點
缺陷quēxiàndefect
缺席quēxíabsence
缺口quēkǒunick
空缺vacancy
短缺duǎnquēshortage
缺失quēshīdeficiency
完美无缺flawless完美無缺
缺氧anaerobic
欠缺qiànquēlapse
缺损defective缺損
不可或缺necessary
缺德wicked
稀缺scarce
紧缺jǐnquēscarce緊缺
残缺cánquēbadly damaged殘缺
缺憾a regret
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 缺 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 缺
缺 (quē) and 不足 (bù zú) both refer to a lack or deficiency, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 缺 often implies a more physical absence or vacancy, while 不足 suggests inadequacy or insufficiency in quality or quantity. Understanding these nuances can help you use them appropriately in conversation.
缺 (quē) means 'deficiency' or 'lack' in Chinese. It can refer to a shortfall in resources or an absence of something necessary. Additionally, it can also describe a vacant position or role that needs to be filled.
You can use 缺 in sentences to express a lack of something. For example, '我缺钱' (wǒ quē qián) means 'I lack money' or 'I'm short on cash.' It can also be used in contexts like '缺少' (quē shǎo) meaning 'to lack' or 'to be short of.'
In everyday conversation, 缺 can be used to express shortages or the need for something. For instance, you might say '我们缺人' (wǒmen quē rén), meaning 'We are short on people,' indicating a need for more staff or help. It's a versatile word that can apply to various scenarios.
You can say '我缺钱' (Wǒ quē qián), which means 'I lack money.'
Yes, 缺 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing shortages or vacancies.
Common phrases include 缺乏 (quēfá, to lack) and 缺席 (quēxí, to be absent).
