困窮

• Reading: こんきゅう
• Romaji: konkyu
• Kanji breakdown: 困 (kon) — distress, be at a loss; 窮 (kyuu) — destitute, extreme poverty
• Pronunciation: /ko.ŋ.kʲɯː/

Meaning

Poverty; destitution; severe distress or hardship.

A noun denoting a state of extreme poverty or desperate difficulty, whether financial, situational, or moral. More severe than 貧困 in its emphasis on acute suffering and helplessness. Used in journalism, social policy, and literature. Compounds with する to form the verb 困窮する.

Examples

1. 戦後の混乱期、多くの家庭が極度の困窮にあえいだ。 During the chaos of the postwar period, many families suffered from extreme poverty.
2. 経済的困窮を理由に学業を諦める若者が増えている。 More and more young people are giving up their studies due to financial hardship.
3. 困窮した農民たちは、藩に直訴するほかなかった。 The impoverished farmers had no choice but to petition the feudal lord directly.

Usage Guide

Context: social issues, history, journalism, policy

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 困 (kon, distress/hardship) and 窮 (kyuu, destitution/extremity). Both characters carry meanings of being cornered or trapped, making this compound especially emphatic.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal