Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'become poor' depends on whether you mean a gradual decline into poverty, a sudden loss of wealth, or a state of being poor. The most common and natural way is to use the adjective 貧乏 (びんぼう) with the verb になる (to become). Other expressions carry nuances of falling into hardship, losing everything, or being reduced to poverty.
Express that someone becomes poor or falls into a state of poverty, often gradually.
The most common and neutral way to say 'become poor'. 貧乏 (びんぼう) means 'poor' or 'poverty', and になる means 'to become'. Suitable for both spoken and written Japanese.
彼は事業に失敗して貧乏になった。
He became poor after his business failed.
浪費が続くと貧乏になるよ。
If you keep wasting money, you'll become poor.
Uses the adjective 貧しい (まずしい, poor) with なる. Slightly more literary or formal than 貧乏になる, but still common. Often used in written contexts or to describe societal poverty.
その国は戦争で貧しくなった。
The country became poor because of the war.
Means 'to fall', 'to go down in the world', or 'to be ruined'. Implies a decline from a higher social or economic status. Often used for families or businesses.
あの名家も没落してしまった。
That distinguished family has also fallen into poverty.
Express a sudden loss of money or assets, becoming penniless or bankrupt.
Literally 'become without a single mon (old currency unit)'. Means to become penniless or broke. Vivid and common in speech.
ギャンブルで一文無しになった。
I became penniless from gambling.
Means 'to go bankrupt'. Used for both individuals and companies. More formal and legalistic than 一文無しになる.
その会社は破産した。
The company went bankrupt.
Colloquial and emphatic way to say 'become completely broke' or 'cleaned out'. Often used when someone loses all their money quickly.
パチンコですっからかんになった。
I got cleaned out playing pachinko.
Emphasize the hardship or suffering that comes with poverty.
Means 'to be in dire poverty' or 'to be destitute'. Focuses on the suffering and lack of necessities. Often used in news or formal writing.
失業して困窮している。
I'm unemployed and living in poverty.
Literally 'to be troubled in daily life'. A softer, more everyday way to say one is struggling financially.
給料が下がって生活に困っている。
My salary was cut and I'm struggling to make ends meet.
貧乏になる is more colloquial and commonly used in daily conversation. 貧しくなる sounds slightly more literary and is often used to describe abstract or societal poverty. Both are correct, but 貧乏になる is the safer choice for most situations.
Do not use 〜になる with nouns like 貧困 (ひんこん, poverty) directly as 貧困になる; it is not idiomatic. Use 貧困に陥る (ひんこんにおちいる, fall into poverty) instead if you want to use 貧困.