How to say "poverty-stricken" in Japanese

• 貧乏びんぼうJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the core sense of 'poverty-stricken': being poor or destitute, with little money. This is the common, neutral word for the condition, fitting ordinary description of a person or household that lacks money.
  その頃ころ、私は非常ひじょうに貧乏びんぼうだった。↗

  I was very poor in those days.
• ボンビー
  na-adjective, nounAlso means poor or destitute, but it is a colloquial, less common word heard in informal conversation. For neutral or serious description of poverty it is seldom the word you want; use 貧乏 instead.

For the ordinary sense of 'poverty-stricken'—being poor or destitute—use 貧乏, the common everyday word; 「ボンビー」 expresses the same idea but is colloquial and less common, fitting only casual, informal talk.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 貧乏びんぼうpoverty-stricken
• ぼんびーpoor