Chinese word

短缺

Pronunciation

Pinyinduǎn quē

Meaning

  • adjectivescarce

Example

这个城市短缺水资源。zhè ge chéng shì duǎn quē shuǐ zī yuán

Water resources are scarce in this city.

Illustration for 短缺 (scarce)

More examples

市场供应短缺导致物价上涨。shì chǎng gōng yìng duǎn quē dǎo zhì wù jià shàng zhǎng

The market supply shortage caused prices to rise.

Core concept

A supply falls below the amount needed, leaving a real gap between demand and what is available.

Common phrases

  • 市场供应短缺shì chǎng gōng yìng duǎn quē

    market supply shortage

  • 食品短缺shí pǐn duǎn quē

    food shortage

  • 能源短缺néng yuán duǎn quē

    energy shortage

Similar words

不够bú gòu: Not enough to meet a need, reach a standard, or achieve a desired degree.
不足bù zú: Insufficient in amount or degree for a need, often in careful statements.

Definition in Chinese

表示数量或供给不足，不能满足需要。biǎo shì shù liàng huò gōng jǐ bù zú bù néng mǎn zú xū yào

Word origin

短 (duǎn, "short") + 缺 (quē, "lacking") literally presents something as short and incomplete, which gives the word its sense of an insufficient supply.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this word has a more formal, report-like tone and commonly describes resources, labor, or other supplies rather than a person's simple lack of an item.

Other meanings

  • shortagenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word