hardships and privations; extreme poverty and suffering
A formal, literary yojijukugo describing a state of severe hardship and destitution. Often used in written or rhetorical contexts.
After the war, many people were forced into a life of hardships and privations.
His novel depicts farmers struggling with extreme poverty and suffering.
困窮 is a more common word for poverty or distress, while 困苦窮乏 is a stronger, more literary four-character compound emphasizing both hardship and destitution.
貧困 is the standard term for poverty, whereas 困苦窮乏 is a more intense, formal expression often used in literary or historical contexts.
A yojijukugo composed of 困 (distress), 苦 (suffering), 窮 (hardship), and 乏 (poverty). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of combining synonymous kanji to intensify the meaning.