(とぼ)しい

とぼしい
adjective (i)
scarce; meager; lacking
1. scarce; meager; lacking; poor in
insufficient in quantity or quality; in short supply
経験(けいけん)(とぼ)しい。
I lack experience.
資源(しげん)(とぼ)しい(くに)だ。
It's a country poor in resources.
知識(ちしき)(とぼ)しいため説明(せつめい)(むずか)しい。
It's hard to explain because I lack knowledge.
生活(せいかつ)(とぼ)しいが、(しあわ)せだ。
Life is meager, but I'm happy.
予算(よさん)(とぼ)しいので(あたら)しい設備(せつび)()えない。
We can't buy new equipment because the budget is scarce.

PATTERN:

  • Xが(とぼ)しい (lacking in X)
  • Xに(とぼ)しい (poor in X)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 経験(けいけん)(とぼ)しい (lack experience)
  • 資源(しげん)(とぼ)しい (scarce in resources)
  • 知識(ちしき)(とぼ)しい (lacking knowledge)
  • 資金(しきん)(とぼ)しい (short of funds)
  • 語彙(ごい)(とぼ)しい (limited vocabulary)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (すく)ない: few, little (more neutral)
  • ()りない: not enough, insufficient
  • ()けている: lacking, missing

OPPOSITE:

  • (ゆた)か (abundant, rich)
  • 豊富(ほうふ) (plentiful)