穷

窮

qióng

力 + 穴

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

qióng (adjective) poor; destitute

qióng (verb) to exhaust; to use up completely

qióng (adverb) extremely; thoroughly

Etymology

Simplified form of 窮. Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 躬 represents the sound.

About

穷 is the simplified form of 窮, a phonosemantic compound with 穴 ("cave, dwelling") suggesting a confined space and 躬 (gōng) providing the sound. The simplified character replaces 躬 with 力 ("strength, force"). Its core meaning involves being cornered, reaching a dead end, or total exhaustion, which extends directly to extreme financial poverty.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的家很穷。

Ta de jia hen qiong.

His family is very poor.

穷人应该得到帮助。

Qiong ren yinggai dedao bangzhu.

Poor people should get help.

贫穷不是罪过。

Pinqiong bushi zuiguo.

Poverty is not a sin.

宇宙是无穷的。

Yuzhou shi wuqiong de.

The universe is endless.

他们穷得没有钱上学。

Tamen qiong de meiyou qian shangxue.

They are so poor that they have no money for school.

他穷尽一生追求梦想。

Ta qiongjin yisheng zhuiqiu mengxiang.

He exhausts his whole life pursuing dreams.

尽管生活穷困，他们却充满希望。

Jinguan shenghuo qiongkun, tamen que chongman xiwang.

Although life is impoverished, they are full of hope.

在资源穷乏的地区，发展经济尤为困难。

Zai ziyuan qiongfa de diqu, fazhan jingji youwei kunnan.

In areas with scarce resources, economic development is particularly difficult.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 力

Component: 穴

Example Words