贫富 (pín fù) — the poor and the rich (as a pair or contrast);…

Definition

A paired noun meaning 'the poor and the rich' as a collective contrast, used almost always in formal writing about economics, policy, or society.

noun

the poor and the rich (as a pair or contrast)economic condition (in terms of wealth disparity)

Examples

贫富。
Zhè ge guó jiā de pín fù chā jù yuè lái yuè dà.
The gap between the rich and the poor in this country is growing.
贫富。
pín fù Bù jūn shì shè huì bù wěn dìng de yuán yīn zhī yī.
Unequal distribution of wealth is one cause of social instability.
贫富。
Jiào yù kě yǐ gǎi biàn yí gè rén de pín fù zhuàng kuàng.
Education can change a person's economic condition.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

贫pínpoor

富fùrich

贫 and 富 name the poor and the rich, so the pair refers to wealth disparity.

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 貧; 贫 is its simplified writing.

分貝貧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèimoney

Sound part声符shēngfú

分

分fēn貧pín

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 貧 has 分 above 貝, a money part. 分 gives the sound and means 'divide', giving the image of dividing one's money; the simplified 贫 is a later shorthand.

Open 贫 →

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

宀畐富

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

畐

畐fú富fù

Same sound today

富 pairs 宀, a roof-shaped part, with 畐, which gives the sound fú.

Open 富 →

Appears in