缺课 (quē kè) is a verb meaning 'to miss class' — literally, 'lack class'. The character 缺 (quē) means 'to lack' or 'to be absent', while 课 (kè) means 'class' or 'lesson'. Together, they form a compound verb describing the action of not attending a scheduled class, usually due to illness, personal reasons, or oversight. It’s commonly used in academic contexts involving students, teachers, and school administration.

This term carries a neutral-to-slightly-negative connotation: missing class is generally discouraged, and frequent 缺课 may affect grades or require official justification. It’s often paired with time expressions (e.g., 昨天缺课, 这学期缺了三节课) or modals like 应该 (should), 不得不 (have to), or 已经 (already). Unlike more formal terms like 旷课 (kuàng kè, 'to skip class' — implying intentional absence), 缺课 is broader and can include excused absences, such as those due to sickness or family emergencies.