缺
缺 (quē) means “to lack”. It is made of 缶 + 夬 and has 10 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 缺 into its parts
What 缺 is made of
- 缶 fǒu — earthen crock or jar
- 山 shān — mountain
- 凵 qiǎn — container
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 山 shān — mountain
- 夬 guài — decisive
- 大 dà — big
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 人 rén — person
- 大 dà — big
Origin hint: 缶 gives the meaning, 夬 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
缺 stroke order
Example sentences
我们还缺一个人。Wǒmen hái quē yī ge rén.We're still one person short.
你缺什么东西吗？Nǐ quē shénme dōngxi ma?Are you short of anything?
Words with 缺
Also built with 缶
Quick facts
| Pinyin | quē |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to lack; to be short of; missing |
| Strokes | 10 |
| Radical | 缶 (jar, #121) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 3 (2021) |
Questions about 缺
What does 缺 mean?
缺 (quē) means “to lack; to be short of; missing”.
How many strokes does 缺 have?
缺 has 10 strokes.
What is the radical of 缺?
The radical of 缺 is 缶 (fǒu, “jar”), Kangxi radical number 121.
What parts make up 缺?
缺 is made of 缶 (earthen crock or jar) and 夬 (decisive).
Which HSK level is 缺?
缺 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Learn 缺 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 87: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.