Chinese–EnglishWith examples

缺少

quē shǎo · que shao

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. lack
  2. shortage of
  3. shortfall
  4. to be short (of)
  5. to lack
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

The soup needs something

  1. Liangliang

    这个(zhège)汤(tāng)好像(hǎoxiàng)缺少(quēshǎo)一点(yīdiǎn)什么(shénme)。

    This soup seems to lack something.

  2. Dengdeng

    缺少(quēshǎo)盐(yán)吗(ma)？

    Is it lacking salt?

  3. Liangliang

    不(bù)是(shì)，我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)缺少(quēshǎo)一点(yīdiǎn)味道(wèidao)。

    No, I think it lacks some flavor.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)就(jiù)是(shì)缺少(quēshǎo)盐(yán)，我(wǒ)加(jiā)一勺(yīsháo)。

    Then it is salt. I will add a spoonful.

  5. Liangliang

    哇(wa)，太(tài)咸(xián)了(le)，现在(xiànzài)缺少(quēshǎo)一杯(yībēi)水(shuǐ)！

    Wow, too salty. Now it lacks a glass of water!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

缺(quē)少(shǎo)运(yùn)动(dòng)有(yǒu)害(hài)健(jiàn)康(kāng)。

A lack of exercise is bad for your health.

Tatoeba: Chinese by sadhen · English by WestofEden · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

这(zhè)个(ge)项(xiàng)目(mù)缺(quē)少(shǎo)足(zú)够(gòu)的(de)资(zī)金(jīn)。

This project lacks sufficient funding.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
缺
quē

deficiency; lack

少
shǎo

few; less

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with QExplore words in context