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貧相 (ひんそう, hinsou) Japanese meaning: poor-looking | Kotomora

貧ひん相そう

ひ

ん

そ

う

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

poor-looking; shabby; impoverished appearance

Describes a person, place, or thing that looks poor, shabby, or lacking in quality. Often used for appearance, clothing, or living conditions.

彼かれの服ふく装そうはいつも貧ひん相そうだ。

His clothes always look shabby.

この部屋へやは家か具ぐが少すくなくて貧ひん相そうに見みえる。

This room looks poor with so little furniture.

2

na-adjective, noun

scrawny; thin; meager; sparse

Used for a person's thin or scrawny build, or for something insubstantial like a meager meal. Emphasizes a lack of fullness or substance.

あの子こは体からだが貧ひん相そうで、もっと食たべさせたほうがいい。
That child has a scrawny build; we should feed him more.
朝ちょう食しょくがパン一いち枚まいだけとは貧ひん相そうだ。
A breakfast of just one slice of bread is meager.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が貧ひん相そうな顔かおをしているsomeone has a poor- or mean-looking face
彼かれは貧ひん相そうな顔かおをしているが、実じつは大おお金がね持もちだ。
He looks poor, but he's actually very rich.
貧ひん相そうな身みなりshabby or poor-looking clothing/appearance
彼かの女じょは貧ひん相そうな身みなりで駅えき前まえに立たっていた。
She stood in front of the station in shabby-looking clothes.
貧ひん相そうな体からだつきa scrawny, thin build
彼かれは貧ひん相そうな体からだつきで、とても力ちからが強つよそうには見みえない。
He has such a scrawny build that he doesn't look strong at all.
貧ひん相そうに見みえるto look poor, shabby, or scrawny
この服ふくを着きると貧ひん相そうに見みえてしまう。
Wearing these clothes makes me look shabby.

Kanji

貧poverty, poor
相inter-, mutual, together
素elementary, principle, naked

Related words

みすぼらしいN1sense 1
みすぼらしい is an i-adjective meaning shabby or seedy with a stronger negative tone, while 貧相 is a na-adjective that describes a poor or thin appearance more neutrally.
貧ひん弱じゃくN1sense 2
貧弱 describes weakness or poverty in quality, quantity, or physique broadly, while 貧相 specifically describes a poor or thin outward appearance.
痩やせぎす sense 2
やせぎす describes a gaunt, bony build directly, while 貧相 covers a broader sense of looking poor or scrawny, including clothing and surroundings.

Opposites

福ふく相そう sense 1
福相 describes a face or appearance that looks fortunate and prosperous, the opposite of the poor-looking impression of 貧相.

Don't confuse with

貧びん乏ぼうN2sense 1
貧乏 means being actually poor in money or resources, while 貧相 describes only the outward look of poverty, regardless of one's real financial situation.
貧ひん困こんN1sense 1
貧困 refers to genuine poverty as a social or economic condition, whereas 貧相 is about how a person or thing merely looks poor or shabby.

Written forms

貧ひん相そうUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
貧素ひんそう
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; rarely used and not recommended for learners.

Etymology

Compound of 貧 (poor, meager) and 相 (appearance, aspect). The meaning is transparent from the kanji: 'poor appearance'.