Japanese word

窮乏

Pronunciation

Romajikyūbō

Meaning

  • nounpoverty

Example

戦後、多くの人々が窮乏に苦しみました。sen go ō ku no hito bito ga kyū bō ni kuru shi mi ma shi ta

After the war, many people suffered from poverty.

Illustration for 窮乏 (poverty)

More examples

十分な支援がなければ、被災者は窮乏に追い込まれます。jū bun na shi en ga na ke re ba hi sai sha wa kyū bō ni o i ko ma re ma su

Without sufficient support, disaster victims will be driven into poverty.

Core concept

Describes a condition in which basic resources are so scarce that ordinary life becomes difficult.

Common phrases

  • 窮乏にあえぐkyū bō ni a e gu

    struggle in poverty

  • 窮乏を脱するkyū bō o das su ru

    escape poverty

Similar words

困窮konkyū: A state in which a person or group lacks the money and resources needed for ordinary living.
貧困hinkon: A social or economic condition marked by insufficient income and limited access to basic necessities.

Definition in Japanese

生活に必要な物や金が極端に不足し、暮らしに困る状態。sei katsu ni hitsu yō na mono ya kane ga kyoku tan ni fu soku shi ku ra shi ni koma ru jō tai

Word origin

窮乏 (kyūbō) combines 窮 (kyū, "be at an extreme") and 乏 (bō, "lack"), expressing severe lack that makes life difficult.

Usage tips

  • 窮乏 (kyūbō) is more common in formal writing than in casual speech, especially when describing serious social or economic hardship.

Other meanings

  • destitutionnoun

Opposites

  • 富裕fuyūaffluencenoun

Related words

  • 窮乏化kyūbōkaimpoverishmentnoun

Word lists with this word