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穷苦 (qióng kǔ) — destitute, impoverished

Definition

A written/literary adjective for being destitute — stronger and more literary than 贫苦, which can describe moderate poverty. Often used to modify people (穷苦的人) or life (穷苦的生活).

adjective
destituteimpoverished

Examples

  • 穷苦，。
    Tā jiā guò qù hěn qióng kǔ, xiàn zài hǎo duō le.
    His family was destitute in the past, but now it's much better.
  • 穷苦。
    Zhè xiē qióng kǔ de rén xū yào shè huì de bāng zhù.
    These destitute people need help from society.
  • 穷苦。
    qióng kǔ De shēng huó ràng tā xué huì le zhēn xī.
    The impoverished life taught him to cherish things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

穷qióngpoor
苦kǔhardship

穷 means poor and 苦 means hardship; together they describe destitute poverty.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ苦kǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 艸 shows grass or plants, matching the sense of bitter plants. The bottom 古 gives the sound.

Open 苦 →
Appears in
Society & Public Life

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