奇缺 (qí quē) — to be in extreme shortage; to sorely lack

Definition

奇 (qí) here means 'extremely' and intensifies 缺 'lack', so 奇缺 means 'to be in severe, critical shortage' — stronger than just 缺. Often used in formal writing about resources, talent, or supplies.

verb
to be in extreme shortageto sorely lack

Examples

  • 奇缺。
    Zhè ge dì qū shuǐ zī yuán qí quē.
    This region is in extreme shortage of water resources.
  • ，奇缺。
    Yì qíng qī jiān, yī liáo wù zī qí quē.
    During the pandemic, medical supplies were sorely lacking.
  • 奇缺，。
    Yóu yú rén cái qí quē, gōng sī zhāo pìn hěn kùn nan.
    Due to a severe shortage of talent, the company is having great difficulty recruiting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

奇qíextremely
缺quēlack

奇 means extremely and 缺 means lack, so 奇缺 describes a severe shortage.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dàbig; great
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě奇
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

奇 pairs 大 (big; great) with 可, a sound part.

Open 奇 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
缶缶fǒuearthen pot
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài缺quē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

缺 pairs 缶, an earthen pot, with 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 缺 →

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