Usage of 缺席
The word 缺席 (quē xí) specifically means 'to be absent' from a place or event, especially formal occasions like meetings, classes, or ceremonies. It implies that the person was expected to attend but did not show up.
Common Contexts
It is often used in educational or professional settings, such as students missing classes or employees missing meetings. 缺席 usually carries a neutral to slightly negative tone, as absence can imply a problem or consequence.
Collocations and Patterns
- 缺席会议 (quēxí huìyì): to be absent from a meeting
- 缺席考试 (quēxí kǎoshì): to miss an exam
- 无故缺席 (wúgù quēxí): to be absent without reason
These collocations highlight the formal and expected attendance context of 缺席.
Nuances
Unlike casual absence verbs like 不在 (bù zài), 缺席 emphasizes the official or required presence that was missed. It is not used for casual or temporary absence but for notable occasions.
Common Confusion
Avoid confusing 缺席 with 迟到 (chídào, 'to be late') or 早退 (zǎotuì, 'to leave early'). 缺席 means not attending at all, not arriving late or leaving early.