verb / adjective / noun HSK 5
to be short of · to lack · shortage · scarcity
Meaning
短缺 describes a situation where there is not enough of something needed or desired. It combines 短 (short) and 缺 (to lack) to emphasize insufficiency. The word can function as a verb meaning 'to be in short supply' or as a noun meaning 'a shortage.'
Usage
短缺 is commonly used in formal contexts like news reports, economic discussions, and official statements to describe resource scarcity. It often appears with nouns like 资金 (funds), 人才 (talent), 物资 (supplies), or 粮食 (grain). Less common in casual daily conversation compared to simpler words like 缺 or 不够.
Examples
- 01由于干旱，这个地区粮食严重短缺。, .Due to the drought, this region has a severe grain shortage.
- 02目前公司短缺技术人才。.The company currently lacks technical talent.
Characters
Common collocations
- 资金短缺shortage of funds
- 人才短缺talent shortage
- 物资短缺shortage of supplies
- 严重短缺severe shortage
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters reinforce the concept of insufficiency: 短 originally meant 'short in length' and extended to mean 'insufficient,' while 缺 depicts a container with a gap or missing piece.