缺憾 (quē hàn) — flaw, shortcoming, defect

Definition

Literary/formal word for a 'flaw' or 'regrettable shortcoming,' often used for something one wishes could have been perfect. Stronger than 缺点 (neutral shortcoming) and carries a sense of lingering regret.

noun
flawshortcomingdefect

Examples

  • ，缺憾。
    Zhè ge jì huà suī rán bú cuò, dàn hái yǒu yì xiē quē hàn.
    This plan is good, but it still has some flaws.
  • 缺憾。
    Tā zǒng jué de zì jǐ de rén shēng yǒu hěn duō quē hàn.
    He always feels that his life has many shortcomings.
  • 缺憾。
    Zhè jiàn chǎn pǐn de shè jì yǒu yí gè míng xiǎn de quē hàn.
    The design of this product has an obvious defect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

缺quēdefect
憾hànregret

缺 (defect) and 憾 (regret) together name something imperfect and regrettable.

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
感
感gǎn憾hàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

憾 pairs 忄 (the heart/mind form of 心) with 感, which gives the sound.

Open 憾 →

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