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缺失 (quē shī) — (noun) lack, deficiency, shortcoming; (verb) to lack, to be deficient

Definition

缺失 (quēshī) is more formal than 缺少 and emphasizes something that SHOULD be present but isn't, often used in writing about data, research, or analysis.

noun
lackdeficiencyshortcoming
verb
to lackto be deficient

Examples

  • 缺失。
    Zhè xiàng yán jiū quē shī le guān jiàn shù jù.
    This study lacks key data.
  • 缺失。
    Bào gào zhōng cún zài duō chù shù jù quē shī.
    There are multiple data deficiencies in the report.
  • 缺失。
    Zhè ge jì huà de quē shī zài yú quē fá zī jīn.
    The shortcoming of this plan is the lack of funding.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

缺quēlack
失shīloss

“缺” and “失” both point to something lacking or lost, forming a sense of deficiency.

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
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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.