窮乏|きゅうぼうkyuubou[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbpoverty; destitution; privation; indigence; penury
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.
- 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


