缺
Character learning workspace

quē · to lack, to be short

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #2448
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Learn every stroke in 缺

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 缺 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

缶Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 缺 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 缺

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

quēWords pronounced quē
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Example sentences

Notice where 缺 sits in each complete thought.

Tā yǒu tā de quē diǎn, dàn shì wǒ ài tā.他有他的缺点,但是我爱他。

I love him none the less for his faults.

Source: Tatoeba #11698430 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shuǐ shì shēng mìng suǒ bù kě quē shǎo de.水是生命所不可缺少的。

Water is indispensable to life.

Source: Tatoeba #5698033 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā yǒu wǒ suǒ quē fá de dōng xī : xìn xīn.他有我所缺乏的東西: 信心。

He has what I lack; confidence.

Source: Tatoeba #767103 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Kōng qì shì shēng mìngzhòng bù kě huò quē de.空氣是生命中不可或缺的。

Air is indispensable to life.

Source: Tatoeba #339489 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Māma yǒu yì zhāng cán quē de liǎn.妈妈有一张残缺的脸。

Mama had a crippled face.

Source: Tatoeba #4844787 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tài hǎo le. yí gè quē xí de rén dōu méi yǒu.太好了。一个缺席的人都没有。

Good. No absentees.

Source: Tatoeba #344987 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 缺 in context

  1. Say quē, then recall the core meaning: to lack, to be short.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 缺点 (quē diǎn), meaning “weak point”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 缺 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.