About
The character 贫, traditionally written 貧, is a phono-semantic compound. Its lower component 贝 (貝), meaning cowrie shell, serves as the semantic radical, representing currency and wealth. The upper part 分 functions as both a phonetic element and a semantic contributor, indicating division. Together, the idea of dividing money yields the core meaning of being poor or financially lacking. This sense of deficiency later broadened to describe anything inadequate in quantity or quality.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个地区很贫困。
贫困会影响健康。
政府努力帮助贫民。
教育资源在贫困地区匮乏。
脱贫是许多家庭的目标。
贫富差距是一个社会问题。
尽管物质贫乏，精神却可以丰富。
通过科技创新，可以有效缓解贫困。