欠員

• Reading: けついん
• Romaji: ketsuin
• Kanji breakdown: 欠 (ketsu) — lack, deficiency; 員 (in) — member, personnel
• Pronunciation: /ke.tsɯ.iɴ/

Meaning

A vacant position; a vacancy; an unfilled opening in an organisation.

Used in business and organisational contexts to describe a position that needs to be filled due to someone leaving, retiring, or being transferred. Common patterns include 欠員が出る (a vacancy opens up), 欠員を補充する (to fill a vacancy), and 欠員募集 (recruitment for a vacancy).

Examples

1. 急な退職で欠員が出てしまった。 A sudden resignation left us with a vacancy.
2. 欠員を補充するために求人を出した。 We posted a job listing to fill the vacancy.
3. 欠員が多くて残ったメンバーの負担が増えている。 With so many vacancies, the burden on remaining members has increased.

Usage Guide

Context: business, HR, administration

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 欠 (lack, deficiency) + 員 (member, personnel). Literally 'lacking member,' indicating a position without its person.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal