TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
缺
缺 ＝ 缶 ＋ 夬
ㄑㄩㄝ · quē
verb/noun — to lack; a gap, a vacancy
字源 FORM — what the parts do
缶義an earthen jar
夬聲guài — gives the sounda hand pulling a piece off — to break away, decide
{j,q,x}ITguài → quē — the velar g fronts into the {j,q,x} family; tone moves
A clay jar (缶) with a piece knocked out of its rim — broken, so something's missing. 夬 guài carries the sound, the same piece in 快 and 決. From the chipped vessel: 缺少、缺口、空缺.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
陶罐（缶）邊上磕掉一塊——豁了一個口，再不齊整。
A chip knocked from the rim of the clay jar (缶) — a gap opens, and it's no longer whole.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)器破— a vessel broken, chipped
→缺少、缺乏— to lack, be short of常用
⇒缺口、空缺— a gap; a vacancy常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension