famine; financial hardship; debt
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesnoun
famine; severe shortage of food due to poor harvests
neutralHistorically common in agricultural societies; can also refer to modern food crises.
Nà那
chǎng场
gān干
hàn旱
yǐn引
fā发
le了
dà大
jī饥
huang荒
。
That drought triggered a great famine.
Tā他
men们
zài在
jī饥
huang荒
zhōng中
jiān艰
nán难
qiú求
shēng生
。
They struggled to survive during the famine.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shū书
shang上
jì记
zǎi载
le了
duō多
cì次
yán严
zhòng重
de的
jī饥
huang荒
。
History books record many severe famines.
noun
financial difficulty; tight spot
informalColloquial usage; refers to a temporary lack of money.
Zuì最
jìn近
gōng公
sī司
nào闹
jī饥
huang荒
，
gōng工
zī资
dōu都
fā发
bù不
chū出
le了
。
The company is in a tight spot recently, even salaries can't be paid.
Zhè这
ge个
yuè月
shǒu手
tóu头
yǒu有
diǎn点
jǐn紧
，
nào闹
jī饥
huang荒
le了
。
I'm a bit strapped for cash this month, it's a financial pinch.
noun
debt; loan
informalColloquial, especially in northern dialects; '拉饥荒' means to get into debt.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
mǎi买
fáng房
lā拉
le了
yī一
pì屁
gu股
jī饥
huang荒
。
He got himself deep in debt to buy a house.
Jiā家
lǐ里
de的
jī饥
huang荒
zǒng总
suàn算
huán还
qīng清
le了
。
The family's debts have finally been paid off.