贫寒 (pín hán) — poverty-stricken, destitute (of a family or background)

Definition

Examples

• 他出身贫寒，完全靠自己的努力考上了大学。
  Tā chū shēn pín hán, wán quán kào zì jǐ de nǔ lì kǎo shàng le dà xué.
  He came from a poverty-stricken family and got into university entirely through his own effort.
• 那个偏远山区的孩子因为家境贫寒而上不起学。
  Nà ge piān yuǎn shān qū de hái zi yīn wèi jiā jìng pín hán ér shàng bù qǐ xué.
  Children in that remote mountain area can't afford school because their families are destitute.
• 虽然生活贫寒，但这一家人始终保持乐观。
  Suī rán shēng huó pín hán, dàn zhè yì jiā rén shǐ zhōng bǎo chí lè guān.
  Although they lived in poverty, this family always remained optimistic.