Meaning Index
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "deficient", including 欠 (qiàn), 歉 (qiàn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
The English word "deficient" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 欠 (qiàn), 歉 (qiàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters happen to share the reading qiàn, so lean on the words and written forms to tell them apart. The example sentences further down show how 欠 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 欠 (qiàn) — so "deficient" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "deficient".
借了别人的钱，要记得早点儿还，别老欠着。Jiè le bié ren de qián, yào jì de zǎo diǎnr huán, bié lǎo qiàn zhe.When you borrow money, remember to pay it back early; do not keep owing it.
Common words: 拖欠 (tuō qiàn)、欠缺 (qiàn quē)、欠条 (qiàn tiáo)
是我做错了，我向你表示歉意。Shì wǒ zuò cuò le, wǒ xiàng nǐ biǎo shì qiàn yì.It was my fault; I offer you my apology.
Common words: 道歉 (dào qiàn)、抱歉 (bào qiàn)、歉意 (qiàn yì)
Open 欠、歉 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.