紧缺 (jǐn quē) means 'scarce, in short supply' and is used specifically for resources, goods, or personnel that are needed but insufficient. Unlike 紧张 (jǐn zhāng), which can also describe tight supply but primarily means nervous or tense, 紧缺 focuses solely on shortage. It differs from 稀少 (xī shǎo), which describes sparse distribution or rarity without implying a demand.