贫穷

• Pinyin: pín qióng
• Hanzi breakdown: 贫 = 贝 + 分 (valuables split away → poverty); 穷 = 穴 + 躬 (cave + stooped body — destitute and confined)

Meaning

Poor; impoverished; lacking material resources. Describes both individuals and communities in a state of economic deprivation.

贫穷 is more formal and literary than 穷 alone. Commonly used in policy documents, sociological studies, and narrative writing. The expression 贫穷不是罪 emphasises that poverty is not a moral failing. 极度贫穷 = extreme poverty.

Examples

1. 尽管成长于极度贫穷的环境之中，她凭借顽强的意志和出众的才智，最终考入了全国顶尖的大学。 Although she grew up in extreme poverty, through sheer determination and exceptional talent she ultimately gained admission to one of the country’s top universities.
2. 消除绝对贫穷是联合国可持续发展目标中优先级最高的议题之一，需要各国政府协同合作共同推进。 Eliminating extreme poverty is among the highest-priority issues in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and requires coordinated efforts by governments around the world.
3. 贫穷与教育资源匮乏之间往往形成恶性循环，使得底层家庭的子女在代际流动方面面临重重障碍。 Poverty and a lack of educational resources often form a vicious cycle, leaving children from disadvantaged families facing major barriers to upward mobility across generations.

Usage Guide

Context: social policy, economics, literature, education

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 历史经验表明，单靠经济增长并不能自动消除贫穷，还需要有针对性的社会政策来确保底层群体能够真正分享到发展红利。(Historical experience shows that economic growth alone cannot automatically eliminate poverty — targeted social policies are also needed to ensure that those at the bottom of society can genuinely share in the dividends of development.)
• 他在自传中坦率地描述了童年时期家庭的贫穷境况，以及这段经历如何深刻塑造了他对财富、尊严和社会公正的根本认知。(In his autobiography he candidly describes the poverty of his family during childhood and how that experience profoundly shaped his fundamental understanding of wealth, dignity, and social justice.)

Don't Say

• 贫穷 refers to material deprivation — do not use it metaphorically for emotional or spiritual emptiness; use 空虚 or 匮乏 for those contexts

Origin & History

贫 (poor — 贝 valuables + 分 divide) + 穷 (destitute — 穴 cave + 躬 bowed body — someone crouching in a cave with nothing left)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal