noun, takes する, intransitive verb

  1. deficiency, insufficiency, shortage, lack, want, dearth, scarcity.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
欠乏 けつぼう
闕乏 けつぼう
缺乏 けつぼう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

lack, gap, fail
ケツ か.ける ケン (4th, N3)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
person
ひと ニン ジン (1st, N5)
destitution, scarce, limited
ボウ とぼ.しい とも.しい (8th, N1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
of, this
これ の ゆき (Kentei Pre-1, N1)