Chinese word

缺乏

Pronunciation

Pinyinquē fá

Meaning

  • verblack

Example

我们缺乏时间完成任务。wǒ men quē fá shí jiān wán chéng rèn wù

We lack the time to complete the task.

Illustration for 缺乏 (lack)

More examples

他因为缺乏经验，没通过面试。tā yīn wèi quē fá jīng yàn méi tōng guò miàn shì

He failed the interview because he lacked experience.

Core concept

A necessary resource or quality falls below what a person, group, or task needs.

Common phrases

  • 缺乏经验quē fá jīng yàn

    lack experience

  • 缺乏时间quē fá shí jiān

    lack time

  • 缺乏信心quē fá xìn xīn

    lack confidence

  • 缺乏资源quē fá zī yuán

    lack resources

Similar words

缺少quē shǎo: To be short of a needed thing or person.
不足bù zú: To fall below the amount or level needed for a purpose.

Definition in Chinese

没有或不够某种必要的事物、条件或品质。méi yǒu huò bú gòu móu zhǒng bì yào de shì wù tiáo jiàn huò pǐn zhì

Word origin

缺 (quē, "be missing") + 乏 (fá, "be scarce") combine to show something necessary falling short of the required amount.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this verb suits reports, explanations, and other careful speech, so it gives a shortage statement a more formal tone than ordinary chat.

Other meanings

  • have a shortage ofverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 缺乏感quē fá gǎnsense of deprivationnoun

Word lists with this word