貧 (pín) - Poor & impoverished

貧Tone 2

pín ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

柠七

貧 · pín

Poor;

impoverished;

lacking;

deficient;

inadequate.

Poorimpoverishedlacking

Usage highlights

PovertyAnemiaPoor peopleBarren landPoor and weakPoverty line

Synonyms

  • 穷— poor; impoverished
  • 困— destitute; in straitened circumstances

Antonyms

  • 富— rich; wealthy
  • 裕— affluent; abundant

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The family was very poor (贫穷).
  • He suffered from anemia (贫血).
  • This is a poor area (贫民区).
  • The soil here is barren (贫瘠的土地).

Collocations

  • Poverty(贫穷)
  • Anemia(贫血)
  • Poor people(贫民)
  • Barren land(贫瘠)
  • Poor and weak(贫弱)
  • Poverty line(贫困线)

Idioms

  • Poverty grinds the spirit(人贫志短)
  • Poverty and illness come hand in hand(贫病交加)
  • Poverty gives rise to a desire for change(贫则思变)
  • Extremely poor(一贫如洗)
  • Poverty alleviation(扶贫济困)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, poverty was often seen as a state to be overcome through hard work and moral cultivation.
  • The character reflects a historical concern with social hierarchy and economic status.
  • Modern usage frequently appears in contexts of social welfare and economic development, such as 'poverty alleviation' (扶贫).

FAQ