Definition
缺水 is a separable verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to run out of water' or 'to be short of water'. The verb 缺 ('to lack') and the object 水 ('water') can split when you need to insert a measure word, a time duration, or a complement — for example, 缺过水 ('have experienced water shortage') or 缺了三天水 ('went three days without water'). It can also be used as a stative verb to describe a region or plant being water-deficient.
v.o./s.v.
to run out of waterto be short of waterto be water-deficient
Examples
- 缺水。Zhège dìqū jīngcháng quē shuǐ.This region often suffers from water shortage.
- 。Qùnián xiàtiān zhèlǐ quē guò shuǐ.Last summer, this place experienced a water shortage.
- 缺水，。Rúguǒ quē shuǐ, zhíwù jiù huì kūwěi.If there is a water shortage, the plants will wither.
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