贫困

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 许多家庭仍生活在贫困中。▶ —
   Many families still live in poverty.
2. 消除贫困是全球目标。▶ —
   Eliminating poverty is a global goal.

Collocations

Mnemonic

贫 pín "poor" + 困 kùn "hard-pressed, stranded": poor and hard-pressed, i.e. poverty. Same as the Korean word bin-gon (貧困). The state of being poor and struggling to get by (贫困地区 a poor region, 消除贫困 to eliminate poverty). It is heavier than mere 贫穷 (poverty), adding the sense of being trapped in hardship (困). Its opposite is 富裕 (wealthy). 贫 means "poor" (贫穷, 清贫); 困 means "hard-pressed, stuck" (困难, 困境). The 贫 of 扶贫.

Related

Quick check

1. What is the opposite of 贫困?

   • 富裕 (wealthy)
   • 贫穷 (poor)
   • 困难 (difficulty)
   • 清贫 (honest poverty)