poor; destitute; poverty-stricken
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
poor; destitute; poverty-stricken; in dire financial straits
formalDescribes a state of extreme poverty or financial hardship. Often used in formal or literary contexts, and commonly appears in the idiom 穷困潦倒 (destitute and in dire straits).
Tā他
jiā家
hěn很
qióng穷
kùn困
，
shàng上
bù不
qǐ起
xué学
。
His family is so poor that they cannot afford to send him to school.
Jǐn尽
guǎn管
shēng生
huó活
qióng穷
kùn困
，
dàn但
tā他
shǐ始
zhōng终
bǎo保
chí持
lè乐
guān观
。
Despite living in poverty, he always remains optimistic.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
wèi位
zuò作
jiā家
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
céng曾
qióng穷
kùn困
liáo潦
dǎo倒
。
This writer was once destitute and in dire straits when he was young.
Zhè这
gè个
dì地
qū区
céng曾
jīng经
fēi非
cháng常
qióng穷
kùn困
，
rú如
jīn今
yǐ已
jīng经
hěn很
fù富
yù裕
le了
。
This area used to be extremely impoverished, but now it is very prosperous.