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缺损 (quē sǔn) — to be damaged, worn, or torn; to be defective or incomplete; (medical) to have a physiological defect or deficiency

Definition

缺损 (quēsǔn) is a formal verb meaning 'to be damaged, defective, or missing a part' — covering both physical wear on objects and physiological defects in the body.

verb
to be damagedwornor tornto be defective or incomplete(medical) to have a physiological defect or deficiency

Examples

  • 缺损。
    Zhè běn gǔ shū yǒu jǐ yè quē sǔn le.
    This ancient book has several pages missing/damaged.
  • 缺损。
    Tā huàn yǒu xiān tiān xìng xīn zàng quē sǔn.
    He suffers from a congenital heart defect.
  • 缺损。
    Jī qì líng jiàn yīn cháng qī shǐ yòng ér quē sǔn.
    The machine parts got worn out from long-term use.

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/defect
损sǔndamage/loss

“缺” is lack or defect, and “损” is damage or loss, together meaning damaged or defective.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 損; 损 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán損sǔn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 損 pairs 手 (hand) with 員 as a sound part; the simplified 损 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the original components.

Open 损 →
Appears in
Injury & DisabilityGood & Bad

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