Japanese Conversation · Level 54
90 words
Japanese word
貧困
Pronunciation
Romajihinkon
Meaning
- nounpoverty
Example
貧困から抜け出すのは簡単ではありません。hin kon ka ra nu ke da su no wa kan tan de wa a ri ma se n
It is not easy to escape poverty.
More examples
多くの団体が貧困の解消に取り組んでいます。ō ku no dan tai ga hin kon no kai shō ni to ri ku n de i ma su
Many organizations are working to eliminate poverty.
Core concept
Describes a condition in which a person or community lacks enough basic resources for daily life.
Common phrases
貧困に陥るhin kon ni ochii ru
fall into poverty
貧困から抜け出すhin kon ka ra nu ke da su
escape poverty
貧困を減らすhin kon o he ra su
reduce poverty
Similar words
貧乏binbō: A state of having little money, often used in everyday speech about a person or household.
困窮konkyū: A state of severe financial hardship that makes ordinary living difficult.
窮乏kyūbō: A condition of lacking essential goods or resources, often over a prolonged period.
Definition in Japanese
生活に必要な金銭や物資が不足し、苦しい状態。sei katsu ni hitsu yō na kin sen ya bus shi ga fu soku shi kuru shi i jō tai
Word origin
貧困 (hinkon) is a Sino-Japanese compound combining 貧 (hin, "poor") with 困 (kon, "hardship"), expressing poverty as a difficult condition caused by lacking wealth.
Usage tips
- In conversation, 貧困 (hinkon) sounds more abstract and formal than a phrase about having little money, because it often presents poverty as a social condition.
Other meanings
- destitutionnoun
Opposites
- 富裕fuyūaffluencena-adjective
Related words
- 貧困化hinkonkaimpoverishmentnoun
- 貧困者hinkonshaperson in povertynoun