欠
欠·lack, gap, fail
- On-yomi
- けつけん
- Kun-yomi
- か.けるか.く
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 欠席 | けっせき | absence (from school, a meeting) |
| 欠点 | けってん | fault, weak point |
| 欠ける | かける | to be chipped, to be lacking |
| 不可欠 | ふかけつ | indispensable, essential |
Example sentences
風邪で学校を欠席しました。
かぜでがっこうをけっせきしました。
I was absent from school with a cold.
お皿のふちが欠けてしまいました。
おさらのふちがかけてしまいました。
The edge of the plate got chipped.
水は生活に欠かせないものです。
みずはせいかつにかかせないものです。
Water is something we cannot do without in daily life.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 欠席 as けつせき — the つ is small: けっせき
- Mixing 欠ける (intransitive) with 欠かす (to leave out, transitive)
Memory aid
Picture it
A figure with its mouth gaping open, leaning back in a yawn — attention, and a piece, gone missing.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 欠 mean?