To Get Chipped
To Be Lacking
intransitive verb, ichidan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji itself means lack, and this verb has a few meanings related to that. You'll often see it meaning to get chipped, like when talking about a teacup or your teeth. I guess a chipped teacup is lacking... a piece of itself?
欠ける can also literally mean to be lacking, as in "a good goalie is lacking from their team." You can use it like this when you're short of something, or when something is missing that would complete a set. In these situations, you'll usually see it as 欠けている!
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:
Something is lacking... it's a car (か). You can't stop thinking about this because you have to walk 40 miles to get to your destination. If only that car wasn't missing, this would be easier. Imagine the sweat... the pain... the thirst... all because that car's not present.
マグカップの口の所が欠けてしまった。
The mouth of the mug is chipped.
夕べの月、少しだけ欠けてましたね。
The moon was a little bit less than full last night.
うちのおじいちゃんは、よくデリカシーに欠ける失礼な事を言います。
My grandpa often says things that are rude and lacking in delicacy.