Meaning and Usage
"欠陥" (けっかん) refers to a defect, fault, or deficiency in something, often implying a flaw that affects function or quality. It is commonly used in contexts like products, buildings, software, or plans where something is imperfect or problematic.
Common Contexts
You will often see "欠陥" used in technical or consumer-related discussions, such as "欠陥住宅" (defective house) or "欠陥商品" (defective product). It can also apply to abstract things like plans or systems.
Collocations and Patterns
- 欠陥商品 (けっかんしょうひん): defective product, used when a product has faults.
- 欠陥住宅 (けっかんじゅうたく): defective house, often used in real estate or construction.
- 欠陥がある: to have a defect, a common phrase to describe something flawed.
- 欠陥を修理する: to repair a defect, used when fixing problems.
Register and Nuance
"欠陥" is a formal and somewhat technical term. It is appropriate in written reports, news, and formal discussions about quality or safety issues. In casual conversation, people might use simpler words like "問題" (problem) or "悪いところ" (bad point).
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "欠陥" with "欠点" (けってん), which also means defect or flaw but is more often used for personal traits or abstract shortcomings. "欠陥" usually refers to physical or functional defects, so use it when talking about tangible faults.