Translation guide
Describes someone who lacks money or resources. Japanese has several words for 'poor person,' ranging from neutral to literary, and often uses descriptive phrases instead of a single noun.
To refer to a person who is poor in a straightforward, non-judgmental way.
A common, neutral term for a poor person. Can be used in everyday conversation.
He is a poor person, but he seems happy.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'poor person.' Slightly more formal and empathetic than 貧乏人.
I volunteer to help poor people.
A formal or literary term for a poor person. Often used in written contexts or religious texts.
The poor you will always have with you.
To refer to a poor person in a casual, sometimes dismissive way.
Technically means 'poverty,' but can be used as a noun to refer to a poor person in casual speech, like 'pauper.'
That guy is just a pauper.
Refers to poor people collectively, often with a nuance of 'the poor' as a social class. Can sound slightly derogatory.
To describe someone who is extremely poor, often homeless or starving.
To refer to a poor person in a historical Japanese context, such as a peasant or beggar.
In Japanese, directly calling someone a 'poor person' (貧乏人) can sound blunt or rude. It's often more natural to describe their situation with phrases like お金に困っている人 (a person struggling with money) or 経済的に厳しい人 (a person in financial difficulty).
He is struggling financially.
Instead of saying 'poor person,' you can often use 貧しい (poor) as an adjective before a noun, like 貧しい家庭 (poor family) or 貧しい子供 (poor child). This is more common and less direct than using a noun for the person.
There are many poor people in this area.
貧民街に住んでいる。
He lives in a slum.
A policy to save the destitute.
The life of poor farmers in the Edo period was harsh.