---
title: "Queshao Meaning: 缺少 (quēshǎo) Means “to lack”"
description: "缺少 (quēshǎo) means “to lack; to be short of”. Hear its tones, see what 缺 and 少 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/queshao"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 缺少 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

缺少 quēshǎo

## to lack; to be short of

## Its characters

1. 缺 quē to lack
2. 少 shǎo to lack

## In a sentence

这道菜缺少一点盐。 This dish needs a little more salt.

支持者认为，许多发展中国家长期**缺少**道路、电力和港口，“一带一路”填补了这一缺口，带动了当地的就业和贸易。

From [“一带一路”到底是什么？ · What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-the-belt-and-road-initiative#library-word-259-261)

[More about 缺少](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BC%BA%E5%B0%91)

## More words with 缺 or 少

- [必不可少 bìbùkěshǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bibukeshao)
- [不可或缺 bùkě-huòquē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bukehuoque)
- [短缺 duǎnquē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duanque)
- [多少 duōshao](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duoshao)
- [或多或少 huòduō-huòshǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/huoduohuoshao)
- [减少 jiǎnshǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jianshao)
- [紧缺 jǐnquē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jinque)
- [欠缺 qiànquē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qianque)
- [缺点 quēdiǎn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/quedian)
- [缺乏 quēfá](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/quefa)

## Keep 缺少 for Review

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