Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
缺少quēshǎo(que1shao3)
缺少 (que1 shao3) means to lack or be in short supply of something. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a deficiency in physical items, qualities, or even abstract concepts such as time or energy.
Strokes14Frequency#4931DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of 缺少 is often tied to the value placed on communal support and resource sharing. For example, during festivals, families may feel the 缺少 of loved ones who cannot return home.
Memory Tip
Imagine a character named 'Que' who is always short on supplies. The '缺' (que) part looks like an open box, symbolizing something that is missing, while '少' (shao) represents a small quantity, reminding you of a shortage. Together, they depict a situation where Que is lacking what he needs.
Meanings of 缺少
quēshǎo(que1shao3)
1lack
2shortage of
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 缺少 means.
About 缺少
缺少Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4931Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 缺少
Podcast: 缺少
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 缺少
Quick Contrast
缺乏 (quēfá) — use 缺少 for a more general sense of lacking, while 缺乏 often implies a more serious deficiency.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 缺少 with 需要 (xiāo yào), which means to need rather than to lack. 缺少 is generally used in more formal contexts, while 需要 can be used informally. Common collocations include 缺少资金 (lack of funds) and 缺少时间 (lack of time).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 缺少 connects well with other vocabulary related to needs and wants, such as 需要 (need) and 忧虑 (worry). Focus on its usage in sentences to grasp its meaning and context in everyday conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 缺少 to mean 'need', such as saying '我缺少水' when they really mean 'I need water'. The correct phrase for 'need' is 需要 (xiāo yào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缺少
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 缺少 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 缺少 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 缺少?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 缺少 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
缺少 (que1 shao3) means to lack or be in short supply of something. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a deficiency in physical items, qualities, or even abstract concepts such as time or energy.
When to use 缺少
Be careful not to confuse 缺少 with 需要 (xiāo yào), which means to need rather than to lack. 缺少 is generally used in more formal contexts, while 需要 can be used informally. Common collocations include 缺少资金 (lack of funds) and 缺少时间 (lack of time).
缺少 or something close to it
缺乏 (quēfá) — use 缺少 for a more general sense of lacking, while 缺乏 often implies a more serious deficiency.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 缺少 to mean 'need', such as saying '我缺少水' when they really mean 'I need water'. The correct phrase for 'need' is 需要 (xiāo yào).
Write 缺少
缺
少
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 缺少 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 缺少
缺少 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
