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Expressing "to lack" or "to be short of" with 缺 (quē)
Existence & Possession
Negation
Structure
Subject + 缺 + Object
Explanation
The verb 缺 (quē) means "to lack" or "to be short of." It indicates the absence or insufficiency of something. It commonly appears in compound expressions like 不可或缺 (indispensable) or 缺少 (to be lacking).
Examples
这个计划缺一个有经验的负责人。
Zhège jìhuà quē yí gè yǒu jīngyàn de fùzérén.
This plan is missing an experienced person in charge.
我们队还缺两个人，你要不要来？
Wǒmen duì hái quē liǎng gè rén, nǐ yào bú yào lái?
Our team is still short two people — do you want to join?
好的教育资源是不可或缺的。
Hǎo de jiàoyù zīyuán shì bùkě huòquē de.
Good educational resources are indispensable.