Translation guide
The English word "poor" has several distinct meanings. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression depending on whether you mean lacking money, low quality, unfortunate, or unskilled.
Describing a person, family, or country with little money or resources.
The most common and direct adjective for "poor" in the financial sense. Can describe people, families, or countries.
His family is poor.
Support for poor countries is necessary.
A slightly more colloquial and emphatic adjective for being poor. Often used in everyday speech.
We're poor, so we don't eat out much.
A very common casual phrase meaning "have no money." Not an adjective, but often used to express being poor in a straightforward way.
I'm poor (have no money), so I can't go on a trip.
A formal noun meaning "poverty." Used in official, academic, or news contexts.
Tackle the issue of poverty.
Describing something of inferior quality, such as work, performance, or health.
The most versatile word for "bad" or "poor" in quality. Can be used for results, conditions, weather, etc.
Literally "quality is bad." Used when specifically referring to the poor quality of an object or service.
The products at this store are of poor quality.
A verb meaning "to be inferior to." Often used in comparisons.
Expressing sympathy for someone in an unfortunate situation.
The most common way to say "poor" in the sense of "pitiable." Used to express sympathy.
Poor guy, he lost his wallet.
Let's help that poor puppy.
A slightly more formal or empathetic expression for "poor" or "pitiful." Often used when feeling sorry for someone's misfortune.
A literary or dramatic word for "pitiful" or "miserable." Can sound old-fashioned or overly emotional.
The poor girl kept crying.
Describing someone who is not good at something.
The standard word for "poor" at a skill. Used with the particle が to indicate what one is poor at.
Means "not good at" or "weak in." Often implies a personal dislike or lack of confidence in addition to poor ability.
I'm poor at math.
A humble or formal word for "poor" or "clumsy," often used to describe one's own skills or speech.
Describing a shortage or insufficiency of something.
貧しい (mazushii) only refers to financial poverty. Using it for "poor English" or "poor quality" is incorrect. Use 下手 (heta) or 悪い (warui) instead.
下手 (heta) is a straightforward statement of poor ability. 苦手 (nigate) adds a nuance of personal discomfort or dislike. For example, 私は料理が下手だ (I am poor at cooking) vs. 私は料理が苦手だ (I am not good at cooking and don't really like it).
He grew up in a poor family.
The movie had poor reviews.
Poor thing! She lost her job.
This product is poorer than the competitors'.
Poor him, he got soaked in the rain.
拙い説明で申し訳ありません。
I apologize for my poor explanation.
He has poor experience.