Dictionary
English - Japanese
Poor
pʊr
Extremely common
600 - 700
600 - 700
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
貧しい (まずしい), 下手な (へたな), 乏しい (とぼしい), 不十分な (ふじゅうぶんな)
Poor meanings in Japanese
貧しい (まずしい)
Example:
He comes from a poor family.
彼は貧しい家庭から来ました。
Many people live in poor conditions.
多くの人々が貧しい条件で暮らしています。
Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used to describe a lack of wealth or resources.
Note: This meaning refers to economic status and is commonly used in discussions about poverty.
下手な (へたな)
Example:
She is poor at playing the piano.
彼女はピアノを弾くのが下手です。
His poor performance disappointed everyone.
彼の下手なパフォーマンスは皆を失望させました。
Usage: InformalContext: Used to describe someone's lack of skill or ability in a particular area.
Note: This meaning emphasizes a deficiency in skill rather than financial status.
乏しい (とぼしい)
Example:
The resources are very poor in this area.
この地域の資源は非常に乏しいです。
He has a poor understanding of the topic.
彼はそのトピックについての理解が乏しいです。
Usage: FormalContext: Used to describe a lack or insufficiency of something, not limited to wealth.
Note: This meaning can apply to various contexts, such as resources, knowledge, or quality.
不十分な (ふじゅうぶんな)
Example:
The explanation was poor and unclear.
その説明は不十分で不明瞭でした。
She gave a poor account of the events.
彼女は出来事の不十分な説明をしました。
Usage: FormalContext: Used to describe something that is inadequate or lacking in quality.
Note: This meaning is often used in academic or professional contexts.
Poor's synonyms
Impoverished
Impoverished refers to extreme poverty or deprivation, suggesting a lack of basic necessities.
Example: The impoverished family struggled to make ends meet.
Note: Impoverished emphasizes severe poverty compared to the general term 'poor.'
Needy
Needy describes someone who lacks the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, or clothing.
Example: The charity organization helps support needy children in the community.
Note: Needy often implies a sense of urgency or immediate need compared to the more general term 'poor.'
Deprived
Deprived suggests a lack or denial of essential resources or opportunities.
Example: Children from deprived backgrounds may face challenges in accessing education.
Note: Deprived conveys a sense of being unfairly or systematically denied compared to the broader term 'poor.'
Indigent
Indigent refers to extreme poverty and destitution, often associated with a lack of means to support oneself.
Example: The indigent population in the city struggles with homelessness and hunger.
Note: Indigent conveys a more formal or legalistic tone compared to the more colloquial term 'poor.'
Poor expressions, common phrases
Beggars can't be choosers
This phrase means that when you are in a difficult or desperate situation, you should be grateful for whatever help or opportunity you receive, even if it's not exactly what you want.
Example: I know the job isn't ideal, but beggars can't be choosers.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the idea of limited options or resources available to someone in need.
Living from hand to mouth
This phrase describes a situation where someone has just enough money or resources to survive, without being able to save or plan for the future.
Example: Since losing his job, he's been living from hand to mouth.
Note: It conveys the idea of barely managing to meet basic needs, without any financial security or stability.
Down and out
This phrase describes someone who is in a very difficult or desperate situation, especially due to poverty or lack of resources.
Example: After losing everything in the financial crisis, he was completely down and out.
Note: It emphasizes a sense of hopelessness or extreme hardship beyond just being poor.
Dirt poor
This phrase is used to describe extreme poverty, indicating that someone is extremely poor and has very few material possessions.
Example: They grew up in a small village, dirt poor and struggling to make ends meet.
Note: It adds a vivid and colloquial emphasis on the dire financial situation of the person.
On the breadline
This phrase refers to living in poverty or near the point of starvation, where a person's income is just enough to cover basic necessities like food.
Example: Since losing her job, she's been living on the breadline, barely able to afford food.
Note: It specifically highlights the struggle to afford even the most essential items like food, emphasizing the precarious financial situation.
Poor as a church mouse
This phrase humorously emphasizes extreme poverty by comparing someone's financial situation to that of a church mouse, which traditionally has very little to live on.
Example: After the fire destroyed their home, they were left as poor as church mice.
Note: It uses a vivid and imaginative comparison to portray the depth of poverty in a lighthearted manner.
Hand to mouth
This phrase describes a situation where someone's income is just enough to cover daily expenses and there is no surplus for savings or emergencies.
Example: Without a steady job, they were living hand to mouth, struggling to pay bills each month.
Note: It focuses on the immediate struggle to meet basic needs without any financial buffer or stability.
Poor everyday (slang) expressions
Strapped
To be financially tight or in a difficult situation where there's a lack of money.
Example: I can't afford it right now, I'm a bit strapped.
Note:
Skint
To have no money; to be broke.
Example: I'm completely skint until payday.
Note:
Penniless
Completely lacking money; having no money at all.
Example: After losing his job, he found himself penniless.
Note:
Hard up
Having little money; financially struggling.
Example: I'm a bit hard up this month, so I can't go out much.
Note:
Flat broke
To have absolutely no money; completely broke.
Example: I gambled all my money away and now I'm flat broke.
Note:
Destitute
Completely lacking resources or means of livelihood; extremely poor.
Example: The war left many families destitute and homeless.
Note:
Down on one's luck
Experiencing a period of misfortune or bad luck, especially in terms of financial matters.
Example: He's been down on his luck ever since he lost his job.
Note:
Poor - Examples
Poor as a church mouse.
The quality of the product is poor.
The team's performance was poor.
Poor grammar
Poor - Adjective (Adjective) / Adjective (Adjective)
Lemma: poor
Conjugations
Adjective, comparative (Adjective, comparative): poorer
Adjective, superlative (Adjective, superlative): poorest
Adjective (Adjective): poor
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): poor
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): poor
Syllables, Separation and Stress
Poor Contains 1 syllables: poor
Phonetic transcription: ˈpu̇r
poor , ˈpu̇r (The red syllable is stressed)
Poor - Importance and usage frequency
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
Poor: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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