shortcoming

/ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshȯrt-ˌkə-miŋ ˌshȯrt-ˈkə-/ (ame, mw)

shortcoming — noun

  • shortcomingsingular
  • shortcomingsplural

1. A quality or feature of a person, plan, product, or system that does not meet th

1.名詞C1
釋義

A quality or feature of a person, plan, product, or system that does not meet the expected standard or is not as good as it should be.

例句

The new software had several shortcomings that annoyed users from the first day.

common pattern: have + shortcomings

One major shortcoming of the plan was that it did not address material costs.

shortcoming + of + noun phrase

同義詞
  • flaw

    Often used for physical imperfections or design problems; more concrete than shortcoming, which is broader.

  • weakness

    Focuses on what is missing or lacking in ability, rather than a specific fault that is present.

  • defect

    Implies a more serious or objective fault, especially in manufactured goods or biological conditions.

  • drawback

    Refers to a disadvantage or negative aspect of a situation or choice, rather than a fault in a person or system.

反義詞
  • strength

    The natural opposite in evaluations — a quality that makes someone or something effective.

  • merit

    A positive quality that deserves recognition or praise, often paired with shortcoming in formal assessments.

文法句型

shortcoming + in/of + noun phrase

have/acknowledge/point out + shortcomings

用法筆記

Shortcoming is common in formal or evaluative contexts such as performance reviews, product assessments, or critical analysis. The plural form (shortcomings) appears more often than the singular.

常見錯誤

❌This product has a big shortcoming that it is expensive.
✅This product has a major shortcoming: it is too expensive.
💡'big' is less natural than 'major' or 'serious' with shortcoming; use a colon or restructure the sentence after stating the shortcoming.
❌He has many shortcomings but also many strong points.
✅He has many shortcomings but also many strengths.
💡'strong points' is unusual in formal English; 'strengths' is the standard opposite in this phrase.