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乏
lack · scarce · meager · poor
N1On: ぼうKun: とぼしい
Memory Aid
The kanji 乏 resembles a person (人) who is missing an arm or is incomplete, visually representing the idea of 'lack' or 'scarcity'.
'ボウ' (bou) — Imagine shouting 'BOH!' in disappointment when you find there's a *lack* of something.
Vocabulary
貧乏びんぼうpoverty; poor
欠乏けつぼうdeficiency; lack; shortage
乏しいとぼしいscarce; meager; lacking
困乏こんぼうdestitution; dire poverty
Example Sentences
彼は貧乏な生活を送っています。
He is leading a poor life.
現代社会は人手不足に陥り、食料の欠乏も問題となっている。
Modern society is suffering from labor shortages, and food scarcity is also becoming an issue.
彼の説明は具体性に乏しく、理解しにくかった。
His explanation lacked concreteness, making it difficult to understand.
困乏した状況でも、彼は希望を捨てなかった。
Even in a state of destitution, he did not abandon hope.