To Be Lacking
To Not Be Present, To Get Chipped
intransitive verb, ichidan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji itself means lack, and this verb has several meanings related to that. It can mean to be lacking, like "imagination is really lacking in this movie." It can also mean to not be present, like when you realize your Japanese teacher is missing. When talking about something like a tea cup or your teeth, it can mean to get chipped. I guess if you chip a teapot it is lacking in...perfection?
かける
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:
Something is lacking... it's a car (か). You can't stop thinking about this because you have to walk 40 miles to get to your destination. If only that car wasn't missing, this would be easier. Imagine the sweat... the pain... the thirst... all because that car's not present.
自てん車でこけて、前ばが欠けてしまった。
I fell off my bike and chipped my front teeth.
その予定は確実性に欠けています。
That plan is lacking in reliability.
私には、セーラームーンを見るのを止めるための強い意志が欠けている。
I lack the willpower to stop watching Sailor Moon.