匮 (kuì) - Lack & deficiency

匮Tone 4

kuì ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

匮 · kuì

Lack;

deficiency;

to be exhausted or depleted;

a chest or box (archaic).

Lackdeficiencyto be exhausted or depleted

Usage highlights

Lack of resourcesShortage of fundsLack of energyPoverty and destitutionGold casketStone chamber

Synonyms

  • 缺— lack; be short of
  • 乏— lack; be short of
  • 少— few; little; lack

Antonyms

  • 足— sufficient; ample
  • 丰— abundant; plentiful
  • 盈— full; overflowing

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The region suffers from a lack of resources (资源匮乏).
  • The project failed due to a shortage of funds (资金匮乏).
  • He felt emotionally drained (精力匮乏).
  • The ancient text was stored in a metal chest (金匮).

Collocations

  • Lack of resources(资源匮乏)
  • Shortage of funds(资金匮乏)
  • Lack of energy(精力匮乏)
  • Poverty and destitution(贫匮)
  • Gold casket(金匮)
  • Stone chamber(石匮)

Idioms

  • The treasury is exhausted and the people are impoverished(民穷财匮)
  • To be completely destitute(匮乏不堪)
  • To have a shortage of talent(人才匮乏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a storage box or chest, later extended to mean emptiness or depletion.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, '匮' can describe a state of deficiency or exhaustion of vital energy.
  • The term is often used in socio-economic contexts to describe resource scarcity or poverty.

FAQ