HSK 5, a, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
poor
HSK 5, a, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
poor, destitute; to exhaust
HSK 5, a, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
to use up
HSK 5, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
thoroughly
HSK 5, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
extremely
HSK 5, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
穷
qióng
(coll.) persistently and pointlessly
HSK 5, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4502, Medium
qióng(qiong2) T2
1exhausted
2poor
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March 24, 2026
穷(窮)qióng(qiong2)
The character 穷 (qióng) primarily means 'poor' or 'destitute' and conveys a state of lacking financial resources. It can also refer to exhausting or using up something to the point of depletion. This term is often used in contexts related to financial struggles or when discussing limits in various situations.
Strokes7Radical穴Frequency#4502DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions about wealth and poverty can be sensitive. The concept of being 穷 is often tied to social status, and many traditional stories emphasize the importance of hard work and perseverance to overcome poverty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a small, empty wallet (穷). The character has the radical 穴 (cave) at the bottom, which can remind you of a cave that is empty and represents poverty. The pronunciation 'qióng' sounds like 'caution'—when you're poor, you need to be cautious with your spending.
Meanings of 穷
qióng(qiong2)
1exhausted
2poor
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 穷
穷Simplified
窮Traditional
7Strokes
穴Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4502Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 穷
Podcast: 穷
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AI Study Notes for 穷
Quick Contrast
贫 (pín) — use 穷 (qióng) when emphasizing a state of being poor, particularly in a financial or existential context, while 贫 (pín) is more neutral and often used in literary or formal contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a small, empty wallet (穷). The character has the radical 穴 (cave) at the bottom, which can remind you of a cave that is empty and represents poverty. The pronunciation 'qióng' sounds like 'caution'—when you're poor, you need to be cautious with your spending.
Usage Notes
Be careful when using 穷 to describe someone, as it can be seen as disrespectful if not used appropriately. It's commonly paired with words like '人' (rén, person) to mean 'poor person' (穷人). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, as the tone changes its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 穷 connects well with other vocabulary related to finance and lifestyle. Focus on understanding its various meanings and forms, including its use in phrases that express extreme states of being.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions about wealth and poverty can be sensitive. The concept of being 穷 is often tied to social status, and many traditional stories emphasize the importance of hard work and perseverance to overcome poverty.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 穷 with its antonym 富 (fù, rich), leading to errors in context. For example, saying '我很穷' (wǒ hěn qióng, I am rich) is incorrect; it should be '我很富'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 穷
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Grammar Patterns of 穷
穷 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He grew up poor. He got through school entirely on scholarships. After starting work, he saved money desperately. Now he has finally bought his own house.
Common Confusions with 穷
穷vs窮
qióng
Traditional form of 穷, same pronunciation.
穷 is often used in a broader context, while 穷困 specifically refers to being in a state of extreme poverty.
1
他虽然穷，但心地善良。
穷 is often used in a broader context, while 穷困 specifically refers to being in a state of extreme poverty.
💡穷 (qióng) is general poverty; 穷困 (qióngkùn) is a deeper level of poverty.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "exhausted"?
or
Usage Notes for 穷
Misuse of 穷 in expressionsCommon Error
Learners often use 穷 incorrectly in formal contexts instead of using richer vocabulary.
1
他很穷，所以不常出门。
He is poor, so he rarely goes out.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他很____，所以不常出门。
He is poor, so he rarely goes out.
Example Sentences for 穷 (10)
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1
洛杉矶穷人的境况仍未得到改善。
luò shān jī qióng rén de jìng kuàng réng wèi dé dào gǎi shàn。
Conditions for the poor in Los Angeles have not improved.
Residents in general are poor and undereducated, and live in sub-standard housing.
5
一厘米可以无穷尽地分成更小的单位。
yī lí mǐ kě yǐ wú qióng jìn dì fēn chéng gēng xiǎo de dān wèi。
A centimeter can be infinitely divided into smaller units.
6
利奥尼达斯家曾经很穷，他有很多年都吃不饱肚子。
lì ào ní dá sī jiā zēng jīng hěn qióng， ， tā yǒu hěn duō nián dū chī bù bǎo dù。
Leonidas' family had been poor, he went hungry for years.
7
穷, 那才怪呢! 他的钱比我们两个谁都多.
qióng, , nà cái guài! ne ! tā de qián bǐ wǒ mén liǎng gè shuí.
Poor, my hat! He's got more money than either.
8
少时闲混, 老来穷困.
shǎo shí xián hùn, , lǎo lái qióng.
A young man idle , an old man needy.
9
谈到租小些的公寓,听起来像是要受穷了.
tán dào zū xiǎo xiē de gōng yù, , tīng qǐ lái xiàng shì yào shòu qióng.
Talk of a smaller flat sounded like poverty.
10
篱笆, 窝棚,什么都七倒八歪,叫你一眼就瞧出那穷形窘状.
lí bā, , wō, péng , shí mó dū qī dǎo, bā wāi , jiào nǐ yī yǎn jiù qiáo chū nà qióng.
Fences , sheds , everything had a ruined look, and were eloquent of poverty.
Cultural Notes for 穷
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussions about wealth and poverty can be sensitive. The concept of being 穷 is often tied to social status, and many traditional stories emphasize the importance of hard work and perseverance to overcome poverty.
Synonyms for 穷 include 贫穷 (pínqióng), which also means 'poverty', and 贫困 (pínkùn), meaning 'impoverished'. These words can be used interchangeably in contexts related to lack of wealth.
Yes, 穷 is often used in idiomatic expressions in Chinese. For example, '穷人' (qióngrén) means 'poor people', and '穷追不舍' (qióngzhuībùshě) means 'to pursue relentlessly', showing how the word can convey both a state of being and intensity of action.
穷 (qióng) primarily means 'poor' or 'destitute'. It can also convey the idea of being exhausted or using up resources. In some contexts, it can mean 'thoroughly' or 'extremely', emphasizing a high degree of a condition.
You can use 穷 in sentences to describe someone's financial status or to emphasize the extent of something. For example, '我很穷' means 'I am very poor', while '穷尽所有可能' translates to 'exhaust all possibilities'.
Yes, 穷 can mean to exhaust or use something up completely, such as energy or resources.
It can be seen as disrespectful if used carelessly, so it's best to avoid using it to describe someone directly.
Common phrases include 穷人 (qióngrén, poor person) and 穷苦 (qióngkǔ, impoverished).
