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缺点 (quē diǎn) — shortcoming, defect, disadvantage

Definition

General word for a 'shortcoming or disadvantage,' used for people, products, and ideas. Closer to 短处 in meaning; stronger and more judgmental than 坏处 (which focuses on harm).

noun
shortcomingdefectdisadvantage
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 缺点，。
    Tā de xìng gé yǒu yí gè quē diǎn, jiù shì tài zháo jí le.
    His character has a shortcoming: he's too impatient.
  • 缺点。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn de zuì dà quē diǎn shì jià gé tài gāo.
    The biggest shortcoming of this product is that the price is too high.
  • 缺点，。
    Shuí dōu yǒu quē diǎn, zhòng yào de shì nǔ lì gǎi jìn.
    Everyone has shortcomings; the important thing is to work hard to improve.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

缺quēlacking
点diǎnpoint

缺 'lacking' and 点 'point' combine to mean a point of deficiency.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Abstract Concepts

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