| 1 be short of; lack: |
| | 缺人 be short of hands |
| | 我们队可不能缺了小林。 Our team can't do without Xiao Lin. |
| | 这本书缺两页。 Two pages are missing from this book. |
| | 这些条件缺一不可。 Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. |
| | 这种原料较缺。 This kind of raw material is rather scarce. |
| | 庄稼缺水缺肥就长不好。 Lacking manure and water, crops won't grow well. |