Japanese word

飢饉

Pronunciation

Romajikikin

Meaning

  • nounfamine

Example

昔、この地域は飢饉に見舞われました。mukashi ko no chi iki wa ki kin ni mi ma wa re ma shi ta

In the past, this region was hit by a famine.

Illustration for 飢饉 (famine)

More examples

政府は飢饉への備えを強化しています。sei fu wa ki kin e no sona e o kyō ka shi te i ma su

The government is strengthening its preparations for a famine.

Core concept

Describes a prolonged and widespread lack of food that threatens the survival of a community.

Common phrases

  • 飢饉に見舞われるki kin ni mi ma wa re ru

    be hit by a famine

  • 飢饉に備えるki kin ni sona e ru

    prepare for a famine

  • 飢饉を防ぐki kin o fuse gu

    prevent famine

  • 飢饉対策ki kin tai saku

    measures against famine

  • 飢饉の原因ki kin no gen in

    cause of a famine

Similar words

飢餓kiga: A severe lack of food causes extreme hunger and can threaten a person's survival.
食糧難shokuryōnan: A serious difficulty in obtaining enough food affects a community or region.

Definition in Japanese

広い地域で食料が長期間不足し、多くの人が飢えに苦しむ状態。hiro i chi iki de shoku ryō ga chō ki kan fu soku shi ō ku no hito ga u e ni kuru shi mu jō tai

Word origin

飢 (ki, "hunger") + 饉 (kin, "scarcity") forms a Sino-Japanese compound for a severe food shortage.

Usage tips

  • In English, famine usually refers to a crisis affecting a population, whereas hunger can refer to one person's ordinary need for food.

Opposites

Word lists with this word