ジリ貧ひん

noun

gradual decline; slowly worsening situation

Describes a situation that is deteriorating little by little, especially financially. Often used in economic or personal finance contexts. The word combines the onomatopoeia じりじり (slowly but steadily) with 貧 (poverty).

• このままではジリ貧ひんになる一いっ方ぽうだ。

  At this rate, things will only get worse and worse.

• ジリ貧ひんの経けい営えい状じょう態たいから抜ぬけ出だせない。

  We can't escape from this gradually worsening business situation.