poor and backward; economically and culturally underdeveloped
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
poor and backward; economically and culturally underdeveloped
Originally used to describe China's condition after liberation: 'poor' (qióng) referred to underdeveloped industry and agriculture; 'white' (bái) referred to low levels of culture and science. Now generally used to describe any backward situation with weak foundations.
Xīn新
zhōng中
guó国
chéng成
lì立
zhī之
chū初
，
miàn面
lín临
zhe着
yī一
qióng穷
èr二
bái白
de的
kùn困
jìng境
。
When New China was first founded, it faced the difficult situation of being poor and backward.
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
gǎi改
biàn变
jiā家
xiāng乡
yī一
qióng穷
èr二
bái白
de的
miàn面
mào貌
。
We want to change the poor and backward face of our hometown.
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Suī虽
rán然
zhè这
lǐ里
yī一
qióng穷
èr二
bái白
，
dàn但
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
hěn很
lè乐
guān观
。
Although this place is poor and backward, everyone is very optimistic.
Cóng从
nà那
ge个
yī一
qióng穷
èr二
bái白
de的
nián年
dài代
dào到
xiàn现
zài在
，
biàn变
huà化
zhēn真
shì是
tài太
dà大
le了
。
From that era of poverty and backwardness to now, the changes have been enormous.