1.
to lack, to be short of, to want for
To be in a state of not having enough of something. Most commonly used in the negative form 事欠かない, meaning "to have no shortage of" or "to never lack for."
話題に事欠かない。
There is no shortage of things to talk about.
あの人は問題に事欠かない人だ。
That person is someone who never runs out of problems.
食べるものにも事欠くような生活をしていた時代があった。
There was a time when people lived lacking even food to eat.
USAGE:
事欠く is most frequently used in the negative form 事欠かない, meaning "to have no shortage of" or "to never lack." The affirmative form 事欠く (to lack) is rarer and sounds more literary.
The pattern ～に事欠かない means "there is no shortage of ~."
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～に事欠かない: to have no shortage of
- ～にも事欠く: to lack even ~
- 話題に事欠かない: never at a loss for topics
- 例に事欠かない: to have no shortage of examples