差 (chà) — how to say "to lack" in Chinese

To lack, to be inferior

Radicals / Keys

Work

#48 · gōng · 3 strokes

Examples

这幅画的颜色和原图得很多,需要调整。

The colors of this painting are very different from the original, they need to be adjusted.

我还十块钱。

I'm still short ten yuan.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic for 差 (chà) — to lack, to be inferior

[cha-] Charlie the Chimp is at a talent show, trying to impress the judges with his act. He flips a card that reads 差 "LACKING" with a disappointed frown 😖. Despite juggling three bananas, he forgets the last trick and the judges see him as 差, not quite up to the mark.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "to lack" in Chinese?

"to lack" in Chinese is 差 (chà).

What does 差 mean in English?

差 (chà) means "To lack, to be inferior".

How is 差 pronounced?

It is pronounced chà (written as cha). The page has audio recorded by a native speaker.

How do you write "to lack" in Chinese characters?

It is written 差.

What HSK level is 差?

差 belongs to the HSK 3 vocabulary list.

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