缺席

quēxí

verb HSK 7 #9,263

Meanings

1 to be absent
2 to miss (a meeting, event)
3 absence

Characters

to lack; absent

Literally 'lacking a seat' — the seat is empty because the person is absent

Examples

他因为生病缺席了今天的会议。

Tā yīnwèi shēngbìng quēxí le jīntiān de huìyì.

He was absent from today's meeting because of illness.

法官可以缺席审判。

Fǎguān kěyǐ quēxí shěnpàn.

The judge can hold a trial in absentia.

Tips

usage

缺席 is the opposite of 出席 (chūxí, to attend). Both are formal. In legal contexts, 缺席审判 means 'trial in absentia.'

Stroke Order

缺 quē

席 xí