匮乏

匱乏

kuìfá

adjective #26,796

Meanings

1 deficient
2 lacking
3 scarce
4 in short supply

Characters

exhausted; depleted; empty chest

lacking; tired; deficient

Examples

HSK 7-9

战时物资匮乏，人们生活非常艰难。

Zhànshí wùzī kuìfá, rénmen shēnghuó fēicháng jiānnán.

During the war, supplies were scarce and people's lives were very difficult.

HSK 7-9

这个地区医疗资源匮乏，急需援助。

Zhège dìqū yīliáo zīyuán kuìfá, jíxū yuánzhù.

This region is severely lacking in medical resources and urgently needs aid.

Tips

usage

匮乏 is a formal, written-register word often used in official reports or literary texts to describe critical shortages of resources, funds, or talent. More formal than 缺乏.

Stroke Order

匮 kuì

乏 fá