懂中文 Dong Chinese

缺

quē

be short of, lack

Original meaning: 

damaged object

Phonosemantic compound. 缶 represents the meaning and 夬 represents the sound.

Components
缶 meaning component

缶  Meaning component

fǒu

  

pottery

夬 sound component

夬  Sound component

guài

  

parted, decisive

Evolution

缺 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
缺 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
缺 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
缺 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
缺 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

缺  

quē

be short of, lack; gap, deficit; deficiency; lack; scarce; vacant post; to run short of

Most common words with 缺
Freq.
Word
Meaning

缺

lack

缺乏

to lack

缺少

lack

缺点

fault

缺陷

defect