insufficiency

IPA/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənsi/
KK[ˌɪnsəfˈɪʃənsˌi]IPA/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənsi/

insufficiency — 名詞

  • insufficiencysingular
  • insufficienciesplural

1. A situation in which the amount or supply of something — such as food, money, ti

1.名詞C1
釋義

不足

數量或供應不夠

A situation in which the amount or supply of something — such as food, money, time, or resources — is less than what is needed for a particular purpose.

例句

The relief agency warned that the insufficiency of clean drinking water was putting thousands of children at risk.

救援機構警告，乾淨飲用水的不足正使數千名兒童陷入危險。

insufficiency of + noun phrase (clean drinking water)

After months of drought, the village faced a severe insufficiency of grain for the coming winter.

歷經數月乾旱後，該村莊面臨嚴重的糧食不足，難以度過即將到來的冬天。

severe insufficiency — adjective collocation

常見搭配
  • food insufficiency
  • financial insufficiency
  • sleep insufficiency
  • chronic insufficiency
  • severe insufficiency
  • relative insufficiency
  • insufficiency of funds
  • insufficiency of evidence
同義詞
  • shortage

    More concrete; used specifically for physical goods or supplies that have run low

  • deficiency

    Suggests a lack of something essential or required, often in a nutritional or systemic context

  • scarcity

    Implies rareness or limited availability, not necessarily a failure to meet a specific need

  • inadequacy

    Softer; focuses on falling short of a standard or expectation

反義詞
  • sufficiency

    The direct opposite — having exactly enough

  • abundance

    Much more than enough, often implying plenty

  • surplus

    An extra amount beyond what is needed

文法句型

insufficiency of [something]

adjective + insufficiency

用法筆記

Typically uncountable. Common in formal reports, academic writing, and journalism. Frequently paired with adjectives like 'chronic', 'acute', 'severe', 'relative'.

常見錯誤

There is a insufficiency of funds.
There is an insufficiency of funds.
The word begins with a vowel sound, so the article must be 'an'.
The insufficiency of rain meant shortage.
The insufficiency of rain meant a shortage of crops.
'Insufficiency' names the condition of not-enough; 'shortage' names the concrete result. The two are not interchangeable.

2. A medical condition in which a part of the body — such as the heart, kidneys, or

2.名詞C1
釋義

不全

器官功能衰竭或失常

A medical condition in which a part of the body — such as the heart, kidneys, or lungs — is unable to perform its normal functions to the required degree.

例句

The cardiologist diagnosed the elderly patient with chronic cardiac insufficiency and prescribed a strict low-sodium diet.

心臟科醫師診斷這位年長患者患有慢性心功能不全，並為他制定了嚴格的低鈉飲食計劃。

cardiac insufficiency — organ-specific medical collocation

Renal insufficiency was detected during the nurse's routine blood screening, so the patient was referred to a kidney specialist immediately.

護理師在例行血液篩檢中發現腎功能不全，因此立即將該患者轉診至腎臟專科醫師。

renal insufficiency — common medical pairing

常見搭配
  • cardiac insufficiency
  • renal insufficiency
  • respiratory insufficiency
  • valvular insufficiency
  • venous insufficiency
  • chronic insufficiency
  • acute insufficiency
同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

[organ] + insufficiency

adjective of organ + insufficiency

用法筆記

Medical context only. Distinguish from sense 1: here it names a physiological condition, not a general lack. Frequently used in the pattern '[organ] + insufficiency' (cardiac insufficiency, renal insufficiency, venous insufficiency). Contrasts with 'failure', which implies complete shutdown rather than partial impairment.

常見錯誤

He has food insufficiency in his kidneys.
He has renal insufficiency.
The medical sense requires the organ-specific adjective, not a general term like 'food'.
Cardiac insufficiency' and 'heart failure' mean the same thing.
They are different: insufficiency means the heart is weakened but still pumping; failure means it has stopped working adequately.

3. A lack of the personal qualities, skills, or mental fitness needed to handle a s

3.名詞C1
釋義

欠缺

能力或資格不合格

A lack of the personal qualities, skills, or mental fitness needed to handle a situation, perform a duty, or meet a standard effectively.

例句

The ambassador's insufficiency in cross-cultural negotiation led to strained relations between the two countries.

該大使在跨文化談判方面的能力欠缺，導致兩國之間的關係變得緊張。

insufficiency in + gerund (negotiation)

The board questioned whether his moral insufficiency made him unfit to lead a publicly funded charity.

董事會質疑，他的道德欠缺是否使他無法勝任一家公益慈善機構的領導職務。

moral insufficiency — collocation for ethical fitness

常見搭配
  • moral insufficiency
  • mental insufficiency
  • intellectual insufficiency
  • insufficiency in social skills
  • insufficiency in judgment
同義詞
  • incompetence

    Stronger; implies a total or serious lack of the necessary skill

  • inadequacy

    Softer; suggests falling short of expectations rather than total inability

  • incapability

    Suggests inherent inability rather than a lack of training or experience

反義詞
  • competence

    Having the necessary skill or knowledge

  • capability

    Being able to do something effectively

  • fitness

    Being suitable or qualified for a particular role

文法句型

insufficiency in + noun/gerund

possessive + insufficiency

用法筆記

Formal and somewhat dated. More common in legal, psychological, and evaluative writing than in everyday speech. Modern alternatives include 'inadequacy' and 'incompetence' (the latter being stronger). Frequently takes a modifying adjective such as 'mental', 'moral', 'intellectual'.

常見錯誤

His insufficiency' used alone is confusing.
His insufficiency in dealing with conflict
always specify the area or domain, otherwise the reader cannot tell which sense you mean.
She was fired for insufficiency.
She was fired for professional incompetence.
'Incompetence' is the stronger, more natural term in modern workplace contexts.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • insufficiency of funds
  • insufficiency of evidence
  • insufficiency of resources
  • insufficiency of information

副詞搭配

常用片語

  • signs of insufficiency
  • degree of insufficiency
  • risk of insufficiency

介系詞搭配

  • insufficiency of
  • insufficiency in