Translation guide
Describes a temporary lack of money, often in informal contexts. The most natural Japanese expressions depend on whether you are speaking casually or formally, and whether you want to emphasize the temporary struggle or the general state of being broke.
Express that you are currently low on cash, often in a casual or slightly self-deprecating way.
A very common casual term meaning 'short of money' or 'broke'. Literally 'money shortage'. Used in everyday conversation.
I'm hard up this month, so I can't eat out.
The most straightforward way to say 'I have no money'. Neutral and widely understood.
I'm hard up right now, so I can't go out.
Literally 'troubled by money'. Slightly more formal than 金欠, but still common. Emphasizes the difficulty.
He seems to be hard up.
A humorous or exaggerated way to say 'chronic money shortage'. Literally 'money-shortage disease'.
I've come down with a case of being hard up again.
Describe a more serious or ongoing lack of money, often used in formal or descriptive contexts.
Means 'struggling to make a living'. Suitable for describing someone who is hard up in a more serious way.
I lost my job and am hard up.
Means 'poor' or 'poverty'. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective. More direct than 'hard up' and can sound blunt.
A more formal way to say 'financially struggling'. Often used in serious discussions.
Extend the metaphor to being short of non-monetary resources, like ideas or time.
The English phrase 'hard up' does not have a single direct Japanese equivalent. Translating word-for-word will sound unnatural. Use context-appropriate expressions like 金欠 or お金がない instead.
金欠 is casual and implies a temporary shortage, often used among friends. 貧乏 is a stronger, more permanent-sounding word for poverty and can be offensive if used carelessly.
貧乏な学生時代を過ごした。
I spent my student days hard up.
I'm in a hard-up situation financially right now.