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缺陷 (quē xiàn) — defect; flaw

Definition

缺陷 is a formal, written word for a 'defect' or 'flaw' in a thing or system — more literary than 缺点 and stronger than 毛病. Often used in technical or evaluative contexts.

noun
defectflaw
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 缺陷。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào de zuì dà quē xiàn shì róng yì duàn liè.
    The biggest flaw of this material is that it breaks easily.
  • 缺陷，。
    Měi gè rén dōu wú fǎ bì miǎn quē xiàn, zhòng yào de shì bú duàn gǎi jìn.
    No one can avoid flaws; the important thing is to keep improving.
  • 缺陷。
    Zhè tái jī qì de yí gè quē xiàn yǐng xiǎng le shēng chǎn xiào lǜ.
    A defect in this machine affected production efficiency.

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quēdefect
陷xiànflaw

缺 'defect' and 陷 'flaw' combine to mean a missing or imperfect part.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn陷xiàn
Same sound today

In 陷, the older form 臽 pictured falling into a trap; 阜 was added later to differentiate it.

Open 陷 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsGood & Bad

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