Usage note
缺少表示少了某样东西。
quē shǎo biǎo shì shǎo le mǒu yàng dōng xī。
Lack means being short of something.
Context note
缺少常和材料、时间、经验一起用。
quē shǎo cháng hé cái liào 、 shí jiān 、 jīng yàn yì qǐ yòng。
Lack is often used with materials, time, and experience.
5 examples
我们缺少时间。
wǒ men quē shǎo shí jiān。
We lack time.
这个计划缺少细节。
zhè ge jì huà quē shǎo xì jié。
This plan lacks details.
他缺少经验。
tā quē shǎo jīng yàn。
He lacks experience.
房间里缺少椅子。
fáng jiān lǐ quē shǎo yǐ zi。
The room lacks chairs.
她不缺少勇气。
tā bù quē shǎo yǒng qì。
She does not lack courage.
5 mini stories
这篇文章缺少一个结尾。
zhè piān wén zhāng quē shǎo yí gè jié wěi。
This article lacks an ending.
他因为缺少睡眠而很困。
tā yīn wèi quē shǎo shuì mián ér hěn kùn。
He was sleepy because of lack of sleep.
这个班不缺少努力的学生。
zhè ge bān bù quē shǎo nǔ lì de xué shēng。
This class does not lack hardworking students.
计划缺少一点说明。
jì huà quē shǎo yì diǎn shuō míng。
The plan lacks a bit of explanation.
如果缺少练习，进步会很慢。
rú guǒ quē shǎo liàn xí， jìn bù huì hěn màn。
If practice is lacking, progress will be slow.
Mini dialogue
缺少练习
A
我中文说得不好，因为缺少练习。
Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo, yīnwèi quēshǎo liànxí.
My Chinese speaking isn't good because I lack practice.
B
别担心，多练习就好了。
Bié dānxīn, duō liànxí jiù hǎo le.
Don't worry. Just practice more and it will be fine.
缺少材料
A
我们缺少做手工的彩纸。
Wǒmen quēshǎo zuò shǒugōng de cǎizhǐ.
We lack colored paper for doing crafts.
B
我去找老师要一些。
Wǒ qù zhǎo lǎoshī yào yīxiē.
I'll go ask the teacher for some.
Related words and contrasts
similar
缺乏
quēfá
to lack; to be short of
Very close in meaning; 缺乏 is slightly more formal.
similar
不足
bùzú
insufficient; not enough
Describes the state of not having enough.
opposite
拥有
yōngyǒu
to possess; to have
Means to have something, the opposite of lacking it.