Chinese word

残缺

Pronunciation

Pinyincán quē

Meaning

  • adjectiveincomplete

Example

旧书的封面残缺，字有些看不清。jiù shū de fēng miàn cán quē zì yǒu xiē kàn bù qīng

Some pieces are missing from the old book's cover, and some of the characters are hard to make out.

Illustration for 残缺 (incomplete)

More examples

这幅字画因虫蛀而显得残缺。zhè fú zì huà yīn chóng zhù ér xiǎn de cán quē

This piece of calligraphy and painting looks incomplete because insects damaged it.

Core concept

Something that has lost one or more parts and no longer presents a complete form.

Common phrases

  • 残缺的部分cán quē de bù fèn

    incomplete part

  • 显得残缺xiǎn de cán quē

    seem incomplete

  • 有残缺yǒu cán quē

    have missing parts

Similar words

不完整bù wán zhěng: Failing to include everything needed for a complete whole.
不齐全bù qí quán: Not containing all the items or parts that should be included.
有缺陷yǒu quē xiàn: Having a defect that makes its quality or function less complete.

Definition in Chinese

形容某物或某处有缺损或不完整，常指外观或实物部分缺失，也可用于比喻性表述。xíng róng mǒu wù huò mǒu chù yǒu quē sǔn huò bù wán zhěng cháng zhǐ wài guān huò shí wù bù fèn quē shī yě kě yòng yú bǐ yù xìng biǎo shù

Word origin

残 (cán, "remaining") suggests what is left after loss, while 缺 (quē, "missing") identifies the absent part; together they describe an incomplete whole.

Usage tips

  • The word often appears in descriptions of old objects, damaged documents, and incomplete images, so it helps make physical condition more precise in everyday Chinese.

Other meanings

  • missing piecenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 残缺不全cán quē bù quánincomplete and imperfectidiom
  • 残缺感cán quē gǎnsense of incompletenessnoun

Word lists with this word