缺乏
quēfá · HSK 5
lack
🕳️ 缺 = lack/missing + 乏 = deficient; doubles down on 'not enough'
缺 (quē) means 'missing/short' (think 缺席 absent); 乏 (fá) means 'deficient/tired'. Stacking two near-synonyms intensifies the sense — 缺乏 is a strong 'lack of' something, often resources, experience, or vitamins.
缺 — 缶 (jar) + 夬 (phonetic)
Originally a semantic-phonetic compound: the 缶 component depicts an earthenware jar, while 夬 supplies the sound. The character first referred to a broken or chipped pot, then broadened to mean 'lacking,' 'missing,' or 'deficient' in general.