窮乏|きゅうぼうkyuubou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbpoverty; destitution; privation; indigence; penury
    飢饉ききんが人々ひとびとにひどい窮乏きゅうぼうをもたらした。↗
    Famine caused great distress among the people.
Conjugation
Dictionary form窮乏する(きゅうぼうする)
Polite (masu)窮乏します(きゅうぼうします)
Negative (nai)窮乏しない(きゅうぼうしない)
polite (masen)窮乏しません(きゅうぼうしません)
classical zu / nu窮乏せず・窮乏せぬ(きゅうぼうせず・きゅうぼうせぬ)
Past (ta)窮乏した(きゅうぼうした)
polite (mashita)窮乏しました(きゅうぼうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)窮乏しなかった(きゅうぼうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)窮乏しませんでした(きゅうぼうしませんでした)
Te form窮乏して(きゅうぼうして)
Potential窮乏できる(きゅうぼうできる)
Passive窮乏される(きゅうぼうされる)
Causative窮乏させる(きゅうぼうさせる)
Causative passive窮乏させられる(きゅうぼうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)窮乏すれば(きゅうぼうすれば)
tara窮乏したら(きゅうぼうしたら)
Volitional窮乏しよう(きゅうぼうしよう)
polite (mashou)窮乏しましょう(きゅうぼうしましょう)
Imperative窮乏しろ(きゅうぼうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym貧困ひんこんNeutralNeutral word for poverty as a social issue, as in 「貧困層」; 「窮乏」 focuses on acute hardship in daily life and shortage of goods.
  • Synonym困窮こんきゅうWrittenWritten word for hardship in living or being stuck in a bind; very close to 「窮乏」 in meaning and register.
  • Synonym貧乏びんぼうNeutralEveryday word for being poor, common in speech; 「窮乏」 is more written and implies a heavier degree of want.
  • Synonym貧ひんWrittenWritten word for poverty, used mostly in compounds; 「窮乏」 is the more common standalone term.
  • Synonym極貧ごくひんWrittenWritten word for extreme poverty, stressing degree; 「窮乏」 instead focuses on hardship and lack of goods.
  • Synonym赤貧せきひんWrittenWritten word for utter destitution, as in 「赤貧洗うが如し」; 「窮乏」 is the more common term.
  • Synonym貧窮ひんきゅうWrittenWritten word for poverty and hardship, rarely used; 「窮乏」 is the more common choice.
  • Synonym貧苦ひんくWrittenWritten word for the hardships of poverty; 「窮乏」 focuses on hardship and shortage of goods.
  • Related金欠きんけつCasualColloquial slang for being short of money or broke; 「窮乏」 is written and much graver.
  • Related貧寒ひんかんWrittenWritten word for poverty and hardship, rarely used; say 「窮乏」 or 「貧困」 instead.
  • Antonym富裕ふゆうWrittenWritten word for wealth and affluence; the opposite of 「窮乏」 as a life of hardship.
  • Antonym繁栄はんえいNeutralNeutral word for prosperity and thriving; the opposite of the hardship and want 「窮乏」 describes.

「窮乏」 is written prose for acute hardship in living and lack of goods, as in 「窮乏生活」. For poverty as a social issue use 「貧困」; in speech 「貧乏」; for being short of cash 「金欠」. 「困窮」 is a close written rival; 「極貧」 and 「赤貧」 stress extreme degree (「赤貧洗うが如し」). 「貧」「貧窮」「貧苦」「貧寒」 are rare written words — prefer 「窮乏」 or 「貧困」. Opposites: 「富裕」 (wealth), 「繁栄」 (prosperity).

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 非常ひじょうに貧まずしく、生活せいかつに困窮こんきゅうすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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