Usage note
缺表示缺少、不够。
quē biǎo shì quē shǎo 、 bú gòu。
Lack means not enough or missing.
Context note
缺常出现在数量、材料和状态里。
quē cháng chū xiàn zài shù liàng 、 cái liào hé zhuàng tài lǐ。
Lack often appears in quantity, materials, and condition.
5 examples
我缺一支笔。
wǒ quē yì zhī bǐ。
I am missing a pen.
这个班不缺学生。
zhè ge bān bù quē xué shēng。
This class does not lack students.
他缺钱。
tā quē qián。
He lacks money.
这里缺一个人。
zhè lǐ quē yí gè rén。
One person is missing here.
我们不缺水。
wǒ men bù quē shuǐ。
We do not lack water.
5 mini stories
我发现书包里缺了一本书。
wǒ fā xiàn shū bāo lǐ quē le yì běn shū。
I found that a book was missing from my bag.
这个队不缺努力的人。
zhè ge duì bù quē nǔ lì de rén。
This team does not lack hardworking people.
桌子上缺一杯水。
zhuō zi shàng quē yì bēi shuǐ。
There is a cup of water missing on the table.
他觉得自己缺一点时间。
tā jué de zì jǐ quē yì diǎn shí jiān。
He feels he lacks a little time.
生活里最怕缺的是健康。
shēng huó lǐ zuì pà quē de shì jiàn kāng。
The thing people fear lacking most in life is health.
Mini dialogue
还缺什么
A
我们去超市买东西，还缺什么？
Wǒmen qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi, hái quē shénme?
We're going to the supermarket to buy things. What are we still lacking?
B
家里缺牛奶和面包。
Jiālǐ quē niúnǎi hé miànbāo.
We lack milk and bread at home.
缺人手
A
今天教室打扫，我们缺一个人帮忙。
Jīntiān jiàoshì dǎsǎo, wǒmen quē yī gè rén bāngmáng.
We're cleaning the classroom today and we lack one person to help.
B
我可以来，我不缺时间。
Wǒ kěyǐ lái, wǒ bù quē shíjiān.
I can come. I don't lack time.
Related words and contrasts
similar
少
shǎo
few; little; to lack
Both can mean 'to lack', but 缺 is more formal and often used in compounds.
similar
不足
bùzú
insufficient; not enough
Describes a state of shortage, similar to 缺.
opposite
满
mǎn
full
Opposite of lacking; having enough or plenty.