lack, exhausted

匱 is composed of 匚 (container) and 貴 (expensive). 匚 is a pictograph of a container for holding things, while 貴 represents something of high value. Therefore, 匱 conveys the idea of storing away valuable items. Its original meaning is a chest or cabinet for keeping things, but this sense was later taken over by the character 櫃. If things are stored in a chest, others cannot use them. From this, 匱 came to mean scarcity or exhaustion.