Meanings of 缺席
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Podcast: 缺席
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AI study notes for 缺席
缺席 (absent) vs 不在 (not present) — use 缺席 for formal contexts, while 不在 is more casual.
Be cautious with the tone, as 缺席 (que1 xi2) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other phrases. It is often used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '缺席会议' (absence from a meeting) or '缺席考试' (absence from an exam).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 缺席 connects well with other formal vocabulary related to education and professional settings. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about attendance and punctuality, which are critical themes at this level.
Learners often confuse 缺席 with 不在 (bu4 zai4), which means 'not being there' but lacks the formal nuance of absence. For example, saying '我今天不在学校' (I am not at school today) is informal, while '我今天缺席学校' (I am absent from school today) is correct and more formal.
Pronunciation of 缺席
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Component characters
How to say absence in Chinese
“absence” in Chinese is缺席
缺席 refers to the state of being absent or not present in a particular place, especially in formal settings like school or work. It is often used to describe someone who is expected to attend an event but fails to show up, highlighting the importance of attendance in social and professional contexts.
When to use 缺席
Be cautious with the tone, as 缺席 (que1 xi2) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other phrases. It is often used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '缺席会议' (absence from a meeting) or '缺席考试' (absence from an exam).
缺席 or something close to it
缺席 (absent) vs 不在 (not present) — use 缺席 for formal contexts, while 不在 is more casual.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 缺席 with 不在 (bu4 zai4), which means 'not being there' but lacks the formal nuance of absence. For example, saying '我今天不在学校' (I am not at school today) is informal, while '我今天缺席学校' (I am absent from school today) is correct and more formal.
Write 缺席
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Grammar patterns of 缺席
缺席 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
关于他____的原因有很多传言。
There has been much gossip about the possible reasons for his absence.
Example sentences for 缺席 (4)
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Frequently asked questions about 缺席
You can say, '他因为生病而缺席了会议' (He was absent from the meeting due to illness).
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