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JLPT N28画 · 8 strokesradical 欠grade 4freq #1340

lack, fail, gap, break

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ケツ
  • ケン

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • かける
  • かく

Mnemonic

A broken clock, with a gap in the middle, fails to tell the time, symbolizing a lack of function.

About this kanji

The kanji 欠 means to lack or fail, and it often describes a gap or break in something. It can be used both as a noun and in verbs. For example, 欠席 (けっせき) means "absence," indicating someone is not present, while 欠点 (けってん) refers to a "fault" or weakness in something. Another important term is 不足 (ふそく), which means "insufficiency" or lacking in quantity. A common phrase you will hear is 欠かせない (かかせない), meaning "indispensable," describing something you cannot do without. This kanji is frequently used to talk about missing or insufficient elements in various contexts.

Example sentences

  • 彼は最近、仕事を欠かしています。

    He has been absent from work recently.

Meanings across languages

English
lack, fail, gap, break
Tiếng Việt
thiếu, khuyết, mất, khoảng trống
日本語
欠ける, 欠く, 不足, 欠点
한국어
부족, 결함
中文
缺乏, 失败
id
kekurangan, gagal
th
ขาดแคลน, ขัดข้อง
es
falta, defecto
fr
manque, défaillance
de
Mangel, Ausfall
pt
falta, defeito

Common compounds

  • 欠席けっせきabsence
  • 欠点けってんfault, defect
  • 不足ふそくinsufficiency, lack
  • 欠かせないかかせないindispensable, essential

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