貧窮 / 贫穷
pínqióng
The English word 'poor' can be translated into Chinese in several ways, depending on the context. The default form is 貧窮 / 贫穷 (pínqióng). Wiktionary also lists 貧乏 / 贫乏 (pínfá) and 窮 / 穷 (qióng).
Meaning: with few or no possessions or money (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 貧窮 / 贫穷 | pínqióng |
| 貧乏 / 贫乏 | pínfá |
| 窮 / 穷 | qióng |
| 窮困 / 穷困 | qióngkùn |
The term 'poor' in Chinese is used to describe having few or no possessions or money.
Which one should you use?
窮 / 穷 is the most common, colloquial way to say someone is poor in everyday conversation. In contrast, 貧窮 / 贫穷 is a formal or written term used to describe the state of being poor or poverty in a general or socioeconomic sense. 貧乏 / 贫乏 is used figuratively to describe a lack or scarcity of non-material things, such as resources, experience or imagination. Finally, 贫困 refers to the state of being 'impoverished' or living in 'poverty.'
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the adjective 穷 to describe a person, it is natural to precede it with the adverb 很 (hěn) to mean 'is poor', as in 很穷.
How do you pronounce it?
pínqióng
Did you know?
- The character 窮 / 穷 contains the radical for a 'cave' or 'hole', suggesting that being poor is like being trapped in a confined, dark space.
- There is a traditional Chinese cultural concept where being 'poor but noble' 窮且高節 is seen as a mark of high moral character.
- In some Chinese dialects, the term for 'poor' is used as a humble way to describe one's own home when welcoming guests, regardless of actual wealth.
Examples in context
- 她出生在一个贫穷的农村家庭。(Tā chūshēng zài yīgè pín qióng de nóngcūn jiātíng.)She was born into a poor rural family.
- 联合国致力于减少全球贫困。(Liánhéguó zhìlì yú jiǎnshǎo quánqiú pínkùn.)The United Nations is committed to reducing global poverty.
- 我的钱包空空如也，我好穷啊！(Wǒ de qiánbāo kōngkōng rúyě, wǒ hǎo qióng a!)My wallet is empty, I'm so broke!
- 最近工作不顺利，我没钱购物了。(Zuìjìn gōngzuò bù shùnlì, wǒ méi qián gòuwù le.)I've been having a hard time at work recently, so I have no money for shopping.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poor” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 窮, CC BY-SA 4.0.
