Translation guide
This English phrase describes the state of becoming poor, often after having had more resources. In Japanese, it is commonly expressed with verbs meaning 'to become poor' or 'to fall into poverty,' as well as set phrases. The most natural translations depend on whether the poverty is sudden, gradual, or a result of specific circumstances.
To describe someone or a family becoming impoverished, often after a change in circumstances.
A common and neutral way to say 'become poor.' 貧乏 (びんぼう) means poverty, and になる means 'to become.'
彼は事業に失敗して貧乏になった。
He failed in business and was reduced to poverty.
Literally 'become poor.' 貧しい (まずしい) is an adjective meaning 'poor,' and くなる is the adverbial form. Slightly more literary than 貧乏になる.
戦争で多くの人が貧しくなった。
Many people were reduced to poverty by the war.
A more formal or written expression meaning 'fall into poverty.' 貧困 (ひんこん) is a formal term for poverty, and 陥る (おちいる) means 'to fall into' (a negative state).
不況のため、多くの家庭が貧困に陥った。
Due to the recession, many families were reduced to poverty.
Means 'one's livelihood becomes difficult/harsh,' often implying financial hardship. A softer, more indirect way to express being reduced to poverty.
失業して生活が苦しくなった。
I lost my job and my life became difficult (I was reduced to poverty).
A literary idiom meaning 'so poor it's as if everything has been washed away.' Used to describe extreme poverty. Very formal and rare.
彼の家は赤貧洗うが如しだった。
His household was reduced to abject poverty.
To emphasize that poverty was caused by external factors or a specific event.
Causative-passive form of 貧乏にする, meaning 'to be made poor' or 'to be forced into poverty.' Emphasizes the external cause.
彼は詐欺にあって貧乏にさせられた。
He was defrauded and reduced to poverty.
Means 'to be driven into poverty.' 追い込まれる is the passive of 追い込む (to drive into). Stronger nuance of being cornered.
医療費の負担で貧困に追い込まれる人もいる。
Some people are driven into poverty by medical expenses.
To describe a complete loss of wealth or property, often suddenly.
Literally 'become penniless.' 一文 (いちもん) is an old coin, so 一文無し means 'without a penny.' Very common and vivid.
ギャンブルで一文無しになった。
He gambled and was reduced to poverty (became penniless).
Synonym of 一文無しになる, also meaning 'become penniless.' Slightly more emphatic.
火事で家を失い、無一文になった。
He lost his house in a fire and was reduced to poverty (became penniless).
Literally 'become naked,' used figuratively to mean 'lose everything, become destitute.' Colloquial and vivid.
貧乏になる is more colloquial and commonly used in daily conversation. 貧しくなる is slightly more literary and can also describe non-financial poverty (e.g., 心が貧しくなる 'become poor in spirit'). For financial poverty, 貧乏になる is the safer choice.
彼は貧乏になったが、心は貧しくなかった。
He became poor, but his heart was not impoverished.
English 'reduced to poverty' uses a passive construction that does not translate directly into natural Japanese. Avoid calques like 貧困に減少される. Instead, use verbs like なる (become) or 陥る (fall into).
戦後、多くの貴族が貧乏になった。
After the war, many aristocrats were reduced to poverty.
彼女は夫のギャンブルの借金で貧困に陥った。
She was reduced to poverty by her husband's gambling debts.
His business failed and he was left with nothing (reduced to poverty).