Refers to the state of being poor, lacking money or material resources. Often used in formal or written contexts.
貧にあえぐ人々を支援する。
We support people suffering from poverty.
彼は貧の中で育った。
He grew up in poverty.
insufficiency; shortage; deficiency
Archaic use for a general lack or shortage, not limited to money. Rare in modern Japanese outside of set phrases or classical texts.
In classical texts, 貧 can refer to a shortage of goods.
貧困 describes poverty as a social or economic condition, whereas 貧 is a plainer, more abstract noun for the same state.
poverty; destitution · shortage; lack
anemia; anaemia
poor; meager; feeble; shabby; insubstantial
poor people; the poor
wealth and poverty; rich and poor
poor-looking; shabby; impoverished appearance · scrawny; thin; meager; sparse
become poor; be poor
extreme poverty; destitution
poor person; the poor
The kanji 貧 combines 分 (divide) and 貝 (shell/money), suggesting the idea of dividing scant resources. The reading ひん is the on'yomi.
honorable poverty; poverty without greed
gradual decline; slowly worsening situation
poor hitting; weak batting
great poverty; destitution
poor relief; poverty relief
tiny breasts; flat chest
poor soil; poor country
poor home; impoverished household
destitution; misery; meagerness
petty; trivial; paltry; meager
tiny buttocks; flat butt
poor village; impoverished village
impoverished student; poor student · poor person
extreme poverty
hardships of poverty; serious poverty