quē

阙

Character · Noun · VerbTraditional闕

fault; error; lack

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Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

fault; error; negligence; oversight

literary

Literary term for mistakes or oversights, especially in official duties or moral conduct. Often appears in classical texts.

Gǔn衮
zhí职
yǒu有
quē阙
 。

There are faults in the emperor's duties (from the Book of Poetry).

Bǔ补
quē阙
shí拾
yí遗
 。

To remedy faults and pick up omissions (idiom meaning to correct errors and oversights).

2.

verb

to lack; to be short of; to be missing

archaic

Classical equivalent of modern 缺, used in set phrases and formal writing to indicate absence or shortage.

Cún存
zhě者
qiě且
tōu偷
shēng生
 ，
sǐ死
zhě者
cháng长
yǐ已
yǐ矣
 ，
shì室
zhōng中
gèng更
wú无
rén人
 ，
wéi惟
yǒu有
rǔ乳
xià下
sūn孙
 ，
yǒu有
sūn孙
mǔ母
wèi未
qù去
 ，
chū出
rù入
wú无
wán完
qún裙
 。

(from Du Fu's poem) ...there is no complete skirt to wear when going out.

quē阙
rú如

to be wanting; to be lacking (in data or information)

Show 1 more example
quē阙
yí疑

to suspend judgment on doubtful points