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短缺 (duǎn quē) — to be in short supply, to be lacking

Definition

短缺 emphasizes a systemic or ongoing shortage (funds, power, labor), stronger than the more general 缺/缺少. Closer to 缺乏 but highlights insufficient supply rather than absence.

verb
to be in short supplyto be lacking

Examples

  • 短缺，。
    Yóu yú zī jīn duǎn quē, zhè ge xiàng mù zàn tíng le.
    Due to a shortage of funds, this project has been suspended.
  • 短缺。
    Diàn lì duǎn quē huì yǐng xiǎng gōng chǎng de shēng chǎn.
    A power shortage will affect factory production.
  • 短缺。
    Zhè ge dì qū yì zhí miàn lín láo dòng lì duǎn quē de wèn tí.
    This region has long faced a labor shortage problem.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

短duǎnlacking
缺quēdeficient

'短' lacking, '缺' deficient; together: not enough.

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
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Quantity & Amount

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