1.
poor; poverty-stricken; impoverished
The state of lacking money or material wealth. Can describe a person's financial condition or be used as a noun meaning poverty itself.
学生の頃は貧乏だった。
I was poor when I was a student.
貧乏でも幸せに暮らせる。
You can live happily even if you're poor.
子供の頃は貧乏な家庭で育ったが、今は成功している。
I grew up in a poor household as a child, but now I'm successful.
A common, somewhat blunt word for being poor or in poverty. It is direct and can feel self-deprecating when used about oneself, or rude if used carelessly about others. In casual speech, it is often used lightheartedly (e.g., 貧乏旅行, budget travel).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 貧乏暮らし — living in poverty
- 貧乏旅行 — budget travel; backpacking
- 貧乏くじ — the short straw; a raw deal
- 貧乏揺すり — jiggling one's leg (a nervous habit)
- 貧乏人 — poor person
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 貧困 — poverty; more formal and used in social/political contexts
- 貧しい — poor, needy; a slightly softer, more literary i-adjective
- 金欠 — broke, short on cash; casual, temporary lack of money