Meaning
缺席 means to be absent from an event, meeting, class, or gathering where one was expected to attend. It literally combines 缺 (to lack) and 席 (seat/place), suggesting an empty seat where someone should be. The term is formal and commonly used in academic, professional, and official contexts.
Usage
缺席 is used in relatively formal situations like meetings, classes, court hearings, or ceremonies. For casual contexts, people might say 没来 (méi lái) or 不在 (bú zài) instead. It often appears with 从 (cóng) to indicate what was missed, or with reasons introduced by 因为 (yīnwèi). The opposite, 出席 (chūxí), means to attend.
Examples
- 01他因为生病缺席了昨天的会议。.He was absent from yesterday's meeting because of illness.
- 02学生无故缺席考试会被记零分。.Students who are absent from exams without reason will receive a zero.
Characters
Measure words
- 次缺席了三次会议
Common collocations
- 缺席会议to be absent from a meeting
- 无故缺席to be absent without reason
- 缺席审判trial in absentia
- 从...缺席...to be absent from...
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 缺 (lacking) with 席 (seat), literally meaning a seat is lacking or empty. 席 originally referred to woven mats used for sitting in ancient China, later extending to mean one's place at a gathering.