缺 (quē) — to lack, to be short of; to be absent, to be missing
Definition
缺 is the single-character base verb 'to lack / be short of', used in everyday speech. 缺少 is the more common two-syllable form; 差 can also mean 'lack' but is used mainly in fixed expressions like 差点儿.
verb
to lackto be short ofto be absentto be missing
Examples
- 缺。Wǒ zuì jìn hěn quē qián.I've been short of money lately.
- 缺。Wǒ men bān quē yí gè xué shēng.Our class is short one student.
- 。Tā jīn tiān quē kè le.He was absent from class today.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
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