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乏
乏
3 strokes
Frequency: 1646
JLPT N1
Grade 8

Meanings

destitution
scarce
limited

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
ボウ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
とぼ.しい
とも.しい

Common Words

貧乏
びんぼう
ビンボー
貧之
～な Adj.
～する Verb
Noun
Intransitive
Freq #6113
1

poverty-stricken; destitute; poor; penurious

Examples
その頃、私は非常に貧乏だった。
I was very poor in those days.
乏しい
とぼしい
ともしい
～い Adj.
Freq #6615
1

meagre; meager; scarce; limited; destitute; hard up; lacking; scanty; poor

Examples
この国には石油が乏しい。
Oil is scarce in this country.
貧乏人
びんぼうにん
Noun
Freq #18939
1

poor person; the poor

Examples
子供は貧乏人の宝である。
Children are poor men's riches.
欠乏
けつぼう
闕乏
～する Verb
Noun
Intransitive
Freq #29309
1

deficiency; insufficiency; shortage; lack; want; dearth; scarcity

Examples
知識は欠乏しており、知恵はさらに乏しい。
Knowledge is scarce; wisdom is scarcer.
貧乏くじ
貧乏籤
びんぼうくじ
Noun
Freq #45343
1

short end of the stick; short straw; unlucky number; blank; bad bargain

貧乏性
びんぼうしょう
Noun
Freq #46070
1

parsimonious spirit; tendency to be frugal; inclination to scrimp and save

2

tendency to fuss over trivial things; worrier's disposition

貧乏くじを引く
貧乏籤を引く
びんぼうくじをひく
Expression
Godan verb
Freq #47063
1

to get the short end of the stick; to get the bad end of a bargain

Examples
貧乏くじを引きたくない。
I don't want to be left holding the bag.
窮乏
きゅうぼう
～する Verb
Noun
Intransitive
Freq #50508
1

poverty; destitution; privation; indigence; penury

Examples
飢饉が人々にひどい窮乏をもたらした。
Famine caused great distress among the people.
器用貧乏
きようびんぼう
Noun
四字熟語
Freq #51448
1

jack of all trades, master of none

Examples
いろいろできるし、みんなから重宝されるのはいいけれど、気がついたら器用貧乏といわれないようにな。
People know how handy you are to have around. You're a real jack-of-all-trades but make sure you don't turn out to be master of none.
貧乏くさい
貧乏臭い
びんぼうくさい
～い Adj.
Freq #51737
1

shabby; mean; sorry; dingy

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