English–Chinese

“be short of” in Chinese

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pinyinquē shǎo

Example

我们缺少时间。wǒ men quē shǎo shí jiān

We are short of time.

Illustration for 缺少 (be short of)

How to say “be short of” in Chinese

“Be short of” in Chinese is 缺少 (quē shǎo).

Something needed is missing or too limited for a situation to work as required.

Full entry for 缺少: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 缺少

新项目因为缺少人手，进展很慢。xīn xiàng mù yīn wèi quē shǎo rén shǒu jìn zhǎn hěn màn

The new project is progressing slowly because it is short of staff.

Tips for using 缺少

  • English learners may connect this verb with missing a person or an opportunity, but its practical use centers on an unmet need in a situation.

“be short of” in other languages