Meaning
The kanji 貧 (ひん, まずしい) conveys the fundamental ideas of "poor," "poverty," "lacking," or "meager." It can describe a state of having insufficient resources, particularly financial means, or a general inadequacy in quality or quantity.
The origin of 貧 is quite insightful. It's a semantic-phonetic compound character, formed by combining two components: 貝 (かい - kai), which means "shell" or "money," and 分 (ぶん - bun), meaning "divide" or "part." Historically, the radical 貝 symbolized wealth, as shells were used as currency in ancient times. When these precious "shells" or "money" are "divided" up (分), it suggests that little remains for oneself, leading to a state of poverty or scarcity.
Visually, the kanji 貧 effectively portrays diminishing wealth – the idea that what little money one has is constantly being distributed or taken away, leading to a state of penury. This etymological insight can help you remember its core meaning.
The kanji 貧 has 11 strokes. While JLPT N2 doesn't correspond to a specific grade level in the Japanese school system, 貧 is a Joyo Kanji (常用漢字). This means it's a kanji designated for common use and is typically introduced to Japanese students during secondary education, often around an 8th-grade level for native speakers.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi readings are based on the original Chinese pronunciation of the character and are typically used when 貧 forms part of a compound word with other kanji.
- ヒン (hin)
This is the most common On'yomi reading for 貧. It's frequently used in compound words to express poverty, scarcity, or a state of being poor or inadequate. You'll find this reading in many formal and everyday expressions related to economic and social conditions.
- 貧困 (hinkon) — poverty, destitution
Example: 発展途上国の貧困の問題は深刻です。 (Hattentojōkoku no hinkon no mondai wa shinkoku desu.) — The problem of poverty in developing countries is serious.
- 貧乏 (hinbou) — poverty, poor (used as a noun or na-adjective)
Example: 彼は貧乏だが、心は豊かだ。 (Kare wa hinbou da ga, kokoro wa yutaka da.) — He is poor, but his heart is rich.
- 貧弱 (hinjaku) — poor, weak, meager, inadequate
Example: 彼の体力は非常に貧弱だ。 (Kare no tairyoku wa hijō ni hinjaku da.) — His physical strength is very poor.
- ビン (bin)
This reading is less common than ヒン and typically appears as an alternative pronunciation in specific words. The most notable instance is with 貧乏, where びんぼう is an acceptable, though less frequently used, reading compared to ひんぼう.
- 貧乏 (binbou) — poverty, poor (alternative reading for ひんぼう)
Example: 昔はとても貧乏な生活をしていた。 (Mukashi wa totemo binbou na seikatsu wo shite ita.) — I used to live a very poor life.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese words associated with the kanji's meaning, often used when the kanji stands alone or is followed by okurigana (送り仮名), which are kana suffixes that are part of the word's inflection.
- まず-しい (mazu-shii)
This is the primary Kun'yomi reading for 貧, forming the i-adjective 貧しい. It directly means "poor," "needy," or "meager." It can describe individuals, families, regions, or even abstract concepts like a "poor harvest" or "poor spirit."
- 貧しい (mazushii) — poor, needy, meager
Example: 彼は貧しい家庭で育った。 (Kare wa mazushii katei de sodatta.) — He grew up in a poor family.
- 貧しさ (mazushisa) — poverty, destitution (noun form)
Example: 戦争は人々に貧しさをもたらした。 (Sensō wa hitobito ni mazushisa wo motarashita.) — War brought poverty to people.
- 心が貧しい (kokoro ga mazushii) — to have a poor spirit/heart, to be stingy or narrow-minded
Example: 物質的に裕福でも、心が貧しい人もいる。 (Busshitsuteki ni yūfuku demo, kokoro ga mazushii hito mo iru.) — Even if materially rich, some people have poor hearts.
Common Words & Compounds
Here's a list of common words and compounds featuring the kanji 貧, organized by their thematic usage.
Regarding Economic/Social Status and Condition
- 貧困 (hinkon) — poverty, destitution, indigence
This term is often used in a more formal or sociological context to describe widespread economic hardship.
- 貧乏 (hinbou) — poverty, poor, indigence
A widely used term to describe an individual's or family's lack of money, often used in a less formal context than 貧困.
- 貧困層 (hinkonsou) — the poverty-stricken class, low-income bracket
Refers to a segment of society experiencing poverty.
- 貧富 (hinpu) — wealth and poverty, rich and poor
This compound contrasts 貧 (poverty) with 富 (wealth), often discussing disparities.
- 貧乏人 (binbou-nin) — a poor person, pauper
A direct term for someone who is poor. Notice that 貧乏 here takes the less common ビン reading.
Regarding Quality, Adequacy, or Physical State
- 貧弱 (hinjaku) — poor, weak, meager, inadequate
Describes something lacking in strength, size, quality, or quantity, such as a poor physique or meager resources.
- 貧相 (hinsou) — looking poor, having a poor/meager appearance
Refers to an appearance that seems humble, wretched, or lacking.
- 貧血 (hinketsu) — anemia (literally "poor blood")
A medical term describing a condition where the blood lacks sufficient red blood cells.
- 貧しい生活 (mazushii seikatsu) — a meager life, a poor lifestyle
Describes a life lived with limited resources.
Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions
- 貧乏くじ (binbou-kuji) — a losing lottery ticket; an unfortunate choice or situation
Metaphorically refers to making a bad decision that leads to an unfavorable outcome.
- 貧乏性 (binbou-shou) — a disposition to be stingy or frugal even when not poor; having the habits of a poor person
Describes someone who is habitually thrifty or hesitant to spend, regardless of their actual wealth.
- 貧乏暇なし (binbou hima nashi) — "the poor have no leisure" (a common saying)
An idiom suggesting that those without wealth are constantly busy working to survive.
- 貧する (hinsuru) — to become poor, to be impoverished (often used in a more classical or literary context)
Refers to the act or process of falling into poverty.
Example Sentences
彼は貧しい家庭で育った。
Kare wa mazushii katei de sodatta.
He grew up in a poor family.
世界にはまだ貧困で苦しむ人々が多くいます。
Sekai ni wa mada hinkon de kurushimu hitobito ga ooku imasu.
There are still many people suffering from poverty in the world.
私の実家はあまり裕福ではなく、貧乏でした。
Watashi no jikka wa amari yūfuku de wa naku, hinbou deshita.
My parents' home was not very wealthy; we were poor.
この地域の経済は貧弱で、雇用の機会が少ない。
Kono chiiki no keizai wa hinjaku de, koyō no kikai ga sukunai.
The economy of this region is weak, and employment opportunities are scarce.
貧血の症状があったので、病院へ行った。
Hinketsu no shōjō ga atta node, byōin e itta.
I had symptoms of anemia, so I went to the hospital.
貧しい国々への支援が必要です。
Mazushii kuniguni e no shien ga hitsuyō desu.
Support for poor countries is necessary.
彼は貧乏性で、まだ使えるものを捨てることができない。
Kare wa binbōshō de, mada tsukaeru mono wo suteru koto ga dekinai.
He has a stingy disposition and cannot throw away things that are still usable.
貧困層の子供たちへの教育支援プログラムが実施された。
Hinkonsō no kodomotachi e no kyōiku shien puroguramu ga jisshi sareta.
An educational support program for children in poverty was implemented.
物質的には豊かでも、心が貧しい人もいる。
Busshitsuteki ni wa yutaka demo, kokoro ga mazushii hito mo iru.
Even if materially rich, some people have a poor heart.
世界の貧富の格差は依然として大きい。
Sekai no hinpu no kakusa wa izen to shite ookii.
The gap between rich and poor in the world remains large.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 貧, visualize its components: 貝 (shell/money) and 分 (divide/part). Imagine your meager "money" (貝) constantly being "divided" up (分) among various needs or taken away, leaving you in a state of "poverty" or being "poor." This visual story of fragmented and diminishing wealth provides a strong mnemonic for 貧's meaning of 'poor' or 'lacking'.