lacking
lacking — 形容詞
- lackingpositive
- more lackingcomparative
- most lackingsuperlative
1. If something that is needed or expected is lacking, there is not enough of it or
不足的
所需之物數量不夠的狀態
If something that is needed or expected is lacking, there is not enough of it or it is not available in the amount required.
Funding for the new library is still lacking, so the project cannot start.
新圖書館的資金仍然不足，因此該計畫無法啟動。
be + lacking (predicative)
The village's water supply was lacking during the long summer drought.
在漫長的夏季乾旱期間，這個村莊的供水一直不足。
Basic medical supplies are seriously lacking in several rural hospitals.
幾家鄉下醫院嚴重缺乏基本醫療用品。
When enthusiasm is lacking, it becomes hard to finish a group project.
當缺乏熱情時，完成小組專案就會變得困難。
A good night's sleep was lacking for the nurses working double shifts.
那些值雙班制的護理師嚴重缺乏良好的睡眠。
- insufficient
more formal; can be used before a noun (insufficient funds)
- deficient
stronger sense of falling short of a standard
- inadequate
focuses on not meeting a required level
- scarce
focuses on limited availability, not just shortage
文法句型
be + lacking
be + lacking + in + noun
用法筆記
Predicative only — this sense does not appear before a noun (*a lacking supply). Subject is usually something abstract or a resource, not a person.
常見錯誤
2. Describes a person or thing that is missing an expected attribute, such as confi
缺特質
沒有某種應有的特質
Describes a person or thing that is missing an expected attribute, such as confidence, experience, or a specific feature.
Jiwoo felt her application was lacking in relevant work experience.
Jiwoo 覺得她的申請書缺乏相關的工作經驗。
be + lacking + in + noun phrase (quality)
The young teacher was lacking the confidence needed to manage the class.
那位年輕老師缺乏管理班級所需的信心。
be + lacking + noun (direct object)
Darius found the report lacking in specific data to support its claims.
Darius 發現這份報告缺乏支持其論點的具體數據。
The garden is beautiful but sadly lacking somewhere to sit in the shade.
這座花園很美，可惜缺少一個可以坐在樹蔭下的地方。
Naoko's speech was well delivered but lacking in emotional depth.
Naoko 的演講表達得很好，但缺乏情感深度。
- possessing
having a quality
- endowed with
naturally having a quality
文法句型
be + lacking + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Can take a direct object (lacking confidence) or be followed by in + noun phrase (lacking in confidence). The direct-object pattern is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
lacking — 動詞
- lackingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lackings3rd person singular
- lackinging-ing form
- lackingedpast simple
1. To be absent or not present in a place or situation where something is expected
欠缺
應存在卻不存在
To be absent or not present in a place or situation where something is expected or required.
What the team is still lacking is a clear strategy for the next quarter.
這個團隊仍然欠缺的，是下季度的明確策略。
what + be + lacking + is + [noun] (cleft structure)
Several key ingredients were lacking in the kitchen when Sven tried to bake.
Sven 試著烘焙時，廚房裡欠缺了幾樣關鍵食材。
The proposal is lacking in detail about how the funds will be raised and managed.
這份提案在資金如何籌措與管理的細節上有所欠缺。
Trust was completely lacking between the two business partners after the dispute.
那場爭執之後，兩位合夥人之間完全欠缺信任。
Mathieu noticed that a sense of urgency was lacking among the volunteers.
Mathieu 注意到志工之間欠缺急迫感。
- present
available or existing in the expected place
文法句型
be + lacking
what + be + lacking
用法筆記
Often used in continuous (progressive) form, unlike stative verbs that usually avoid the -ing form. The construction 'what is lacking' serves as a common cleft structure for highlighting a gap.
常見錯誤
2. To not have enough of something that is needed, such as money, time, staff, or o
短缺
所需數量不足
To not have enough of something that is needed, such as money, time, staff, or other resources.
The school district is lacking enough teachers to cover all the classes.
該學區短缺足夠的教師來開設所有班級。
be + lacking + [resource] + to-infinitive
Salma realized she was lacking the skills required for the senior position.
Salma 意識到自己缺乏高階職位所需的技能。
Many families in the area were lacking access to clean drinking water.
該地區許多家庭缺乏乾淨的飲用水。
The charity is still lacking a thousand dollars to reach its fundraising goal.
這家慈善機構距離募款目標仍然短缺一千美元。
Rodrigo felt he was lacking the energy to continue the long hike up the mountain.
Rodrigo 覺得自己缺乏繼續爬那座高山所需的體力。
- having enough
possessing a sufficient quantity
文法句型
be + lacking + noun phrase
用法筆記
The preposition 'in' is optional in this sense. 'Lacking money' and 'lacking in money' are both acceptable, though the shorter form is more common in spoken English.
常見錯誤
3. To experience the absence or shortage of something desired or necessary, often w
匱乏
因缺少而受影響
To experience the absence or shortage of something desired or necessary, often with a sense of hardship or negative consequence.
The rural clinics lack basic equipment such as X-ray machines and sterilizers.
那些鄉下診所匱乏 X 光機和消毒器等基本設備。
lack + [essential items] (formal register)
Talia felt the education system lacks the resources to support students with special needs.
Talia 認為教育體系匱乏支援特殊需求學生的資源。
The committee's proposal lacks a realistic timeline for implementing the changes.
該委員會的提案匱乏實施變革的現實時間表。
Despite its beauty, the garden lacks the diversity of native plants it once supported.
這座花園雖然美麗，但匱乏它曾經擁有的原生植物多樣性。
Henrik argued that the city lacks adequate public transport for its growing population.
Henrik 認為該市匱乏滿足其不斷增長人口的適當大眾運輸。
- be without
neutral register, less formal
- be deprived of
stronger, suggests hardship caused by the absence
文法句型
lack + noun phrase
用法筆記
In this formal sense, the simple present tense 'lacks' is more common than 'is lacking'. The subject is typically an institution, system, or abstract entity rather than a person.
常見錯誤
lacking — 名詞
1. The state or condition of not having enough of something that is needed or expec
缺乏
不足或欠缺的狀態
The state or condition of not having enough of something that is needed or expected, especially when this causes problems.
The lacking of basic supplies made daily life very difficult for the refugees.
基本物資的缺乏使難民的日常生活非常困難。
the + lacking + of + noun phrase
A general lacking of communication between departments caused many costly delays.
各部門之間普遍缺乏溝通，導致了許多代價高昂的延誤。
The report identifies a serious lacking of affordable childcare in the region.
該報告指出該地區嚴重缺乏平價托兒服務。
Sumin was concerned about the lacking of green spaces in the new housing plan.
Sumin 擔心新的住宅計畫中缺乏綠地。
The lacking of proper safety equipment led to several minor accidents on site.
適當安全設備的缺乏導致了現場幾起小事故。
- abundance
a large quantity of something
- sufficiency
an adequate amount
文法句型
the + lacking + of + noun
用法筆記
This noun form is much less common than the noun 'lack'. It is primarily used in formal written English, especially in reports and academic contexts. The noun 'lack' is strongly preferred in everyday speech and writing.
常見錯誤
2. Something that is absent or not available when needed; a deficiency or shortcomi
匱乏物
缺少或被需要的東西
Something that is absent or not available when needed; a deficiency or shortcoming that prevents something from being complete or satisfactory.
The government promised to address the many shortcomings in the education system.
政府承諾解決教育體系中的許多缺失。
plural: shortcomings
Volunteers worked hard to identify the deficiencies that the shelter still had.
志工們努力找出收容所仍存在的不足之處。
The committee listed several gaps that needed attention before the opening.
委員會列出了開幕前需要處理的幾項缺失。
After the storm, the town's main shortages were food, water, and medical help.
暴風雨過後，該城鎮主要的短缺是食物、飲水和醫療用品。
- shortcoming
the standard word for a fault or failure to meet a standard
- deficiency
a lack of something necessary for completeness
文法句型
shortcomings/deficiencies/gaps in + noun phrase
用法筆記
The noun 'lacking' is very rarely used as a countable noun in modern English. For specific missing items or faults, 'shortcoming', 'deficiency', 'gap', or 'shortage' are far more natural and widely used.