Chinese word

欠

Pronunciation

Pinyinqiàn

Meaning

  • verblack

Example

这道菜欠一点儿盐。zhè dào cài qiàn yì diǎnr yán

This dish lacks a little salt.

Illustration for 欠 (lack)

More examples

他的论点欠缺充分的证据。tā de lùn diǎn qiàn quē chōng fèn de zhèng jù

His argument lacks sufficient evidence.

Core concept

A gap separates what is present from what is required, whether the gap is in a quantity or in a payment to someone.

Common phrases

  • 欠缺qiàn quē

    lack

  • 欠缺环节qiàn quē huán jié

    lack a link

  • 欠缺证据qiàn quē zhèng jù

    lack evidence

Similar words

缺乏quē fá: Have a fundamental lack of a needed resource, quality, or other basic thing.
缺少quē shǎo: Have a necessary item or number missing.
不足bù zú: Be below the required amount or fail to satisfy a required condition.
欠缺qiàn quē: Lack an ability, condition, or element needed for something to be sufficient.

Definition in Chinese

表示缺乏或不充足，常用于口语说明量、程度不够，也用于表示欠别人东西或债务。biǎo shì quē fá huò bù chōng zú cháng yòng yú kóu yǔ shuō míng liàng chéng dù bú gòu yě yòng yú biǎo shì qiàn bié rén dōng xī huò zhài wù

Word origin

欠 (qiàn, "yawn") began as a picture of a person opening the mouth, and the character later developed uses for lacking something and owing someone.

Usage tips

  • A noun naming an amount or ingredient after this verb points to an insufficient quantity, whereas a person or money points to an obligation; this object pattern makes quick speech easier to parse.

Other meanings

  • oweverb
  • be missingverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word