缺一不可 (quē yī bù kě) — none can be left out, every one is indispensable

Definition

Fixed idiom meaning every single one is essential — 'not a single one can be missing.' Used as a predicate after listing two or more required things (e.g., 二者、三者缺一不可).

idiom
none can be left outevery one is indispensable

Examples

  • 、，缺一不可。
    Chéng gōng xū yào nǔ lì, yùn qì hé jiān chí, sān zhě quē yī bù kě.
    Success requires effort, luck, and persistence — none can be missing.
  • 缺一不可。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù de měi gè huán jié dōu quē yī bù kě.
    Every step of this project is indispensable.
  • ，缺一不可。
    Tuán duì hé zuò zhōng, měi gè rén de jué sè quē yī bù kě.
    In teamwork, everyone's role is indispensable.

Origin

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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