穷人

• Pinyin: qióng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 穷 = 穴 (cave) + 力 (strength, simplified) — poverty; 人 = pictograph of a standing person — a poor person

Meaning

Poor person; the poor. Refers to people who lack money or material wealth.

A straightforward compound meaning 'poor people'. Used as a general noun for those in poverty, both individually and collectively. Often appears in discussions about society, economics, and social justice (穷人和富人, the poor and the rich). More neutral than derogatory; similar in register to English 'the poor' or 'poor people'.

Examples

1. 这个慈善组织一直在帮助穷人改善生活条件。 This charity has been helping the poor improve their living conditions.
2. 在那个年代，很多穷人连饭都吃不饱。 In that era, many poor people could not even get enough to eat.
3. 政府出台了新政策来帮助穷人解决住房问题。 The government introduced new policies to help the poor solve their housing problems.

Usage Guide

Context: society, economics, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们应该多关心穷人的生活。(We should pay more attention to the lives of the poor.)
• 穷人和富人之间的差距越来越大。(The gap between the poor and the rich is growing wider.)

Don't Say

• 他是一个穷人 said directly about someone present (Avoid labelling someone as 穷人 in their presence — it can be offensive; use 经济条件不太好的人 if needed)

Origin & History

A compound of 穷 (poor) and 人 (person), directly meaning 'poor person' — a transparent and long-established word.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal