貧しい

• Reading: まずしい
• Romaji: mazushii
• Kanji breakdown: 貧 (hin/bin/mazu) — poor, poverty
• Pronunciation: /ma.zɯ.ɕiː/

Meaning

Poor; needy; impoverished. Describes a lack of material wealth or resources.

An i-adjective. Conjugates regularly: 貧しくない (not poor), 貧しかった (was poor). Used for economic poverty and can also describe emotional or spiritual lack (心が貧しい = mean-spirited). More literary than 貧乏 (binbou), which is more colloquial and direct.

Examples

1. 子供のころ、家はとても貧しかったです。 When I was a child, my family was very poor.
2. 貧しい国への支援が必要だと思います。 I think support for impoverished countries is necessary.
3. 彼は貧しくても毎日笑顔で過ごしていた。 Even though he was poor, he lived every day with a smile.

Usage Guide

Context: society, history, economics

Tone: serious

Origin & History

The kanji 貧 combines 分 (divide) and 貝 (shell/money). Depicts money being divided up until nothing remains — poverty through depletion.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal