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贫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
贫
pín
poor
HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, radical 贝, rank #16756, Hard
贫
pín
inadequate
HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, radical 贝, rank #16756, Hard
贫
pín
deficient
HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, radical 贝, rank #16756, Hard
贫
pín
garrulous
HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, radical 贝, rank #16756, Hard
贫
pín
poor, needy, impoverished; lacking
HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, radical 贝, rank #16756, Hard
pín(pin2)pin T2
1poor
2inadequate
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March 24, 2026
贫(貧)pín(pin2)
The character 贫 (pín) means 'poor' or 'impoverished,' describing a lack of wealth or resources. It can also imply inadequacy or deficiency in various contexts, such as skills or qualities. In some informal usages, it can describe someone who talks excessively or garrulously.
Strokes8Radical贝Frequency#16756DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, poverty is often associated with familial obligation and social responsibility, where the community may support those who are struggling. The concept of 贫 also appears in literature and folklore, emphasizing moral lessons about humility and resilience.
Memory tip
Think of a 'pin' (贫 pronounced as pín) that is 'poor' in value. Just like a pin is often seen as a small, simple object, this character embodies the idea of something lacking richness or substance. Imagine a small pin trying to hold together lavish fabrics but failing due to its inadequacy.
Meanings of 贫
pín(pin2)
1poor
2inadequate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 贫
贫Simplified
貧Traditional
8Strokes
贝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#16756Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 贫
Podcast: 贫
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AI study notes for 贫
Quick Contrast
贫 (pín) vs 穷 (qióng) — use 贫 for a broader sense of poverty or deficiency, while 穷 specifically refers to a lack of money or wealth.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change its meaning. 贫 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing poverty, it may carry a heavy emotional weight. Common phrases include '贫穷' (pínqióng – poverty) and '贫乏' (pínfá – deficient).
HSK Study Tips
While 贫 is not part of the official HSK levels, it is useful to connect with related vocabulary such as 富 (fù - rich) and 穷 (qióng - poor). Students should focus on recognizing it in both written and spoken contexts, especially in discussions about economic status.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贫 with 富 (fù - rich) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很贫' (wǒ hěn pín) to mean 'I am rich' is incorrect; it should be '我很富' (wǒ hěn fù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贫
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Knowing 贫 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 贫 (pín) means 'poor' or 'impoverished,' describing a lack of wealth or resources. It can also imply inadequacy or deficiency in various contexts, such as skills or qualities. In some informal usages, it can describe someone who talks excessively or garrulously.
When to use 贫
Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change its meaning. 贫 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing poverty, it may carry a heavy emotional weight. Common phrases include '贫穷' (pínqióng – poverty) and '贫乏' (pínfá – deficient).
贫 or something close to it
贫 (pín) vs 穷 (qióng) — use 贫 for a broader sense of poverty or deficiency, while 穷 specifically refers to a lack of money or wealth.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 贫 with 富 (fù - rich) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很贫' (wǒ hěn pín) to mean 'I am rich' is incorrect; it should be '我很富' (wǒ hěn fù).
Write 贫
贫
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Practice writing 贫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 贫
贫 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
整体而言，当今的老年人依然相对____困。
As a group, today's old people are still relatively deprived.
Example sentences for 贫 (10)
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1
整体而言，当今的老年人依然相对贫困。
zhěngtǐ ér yán， dāngjīn de lǎonián rén yīrán xiāngduì pínkùn。
As a group, today's old people are still relatively deprived.
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Word Family of 贫
Words containing this character20
贫困pínkùnpoverty貧困
贫穷pínqióngpoor貧窮
贫血pínxuèanemia貧血
贫pínpoor貧
贫民窟pínmínkūslum housing貧民窟
贫民区pínmínqūslum area貧民區
扶贫fúpínassistance to the poor扶貧
贫下中农pínxiàzhōngnóng(category defined by the Communist Party) poor and lower-middle peasants: farmers who, before land reform, possessed little or no land (poor peasants) and those who were barely able to support themselves with their own land (lower-middle peasants)貧下中農
贫民pínmínpoor people貧民
贫富pínfùpoor and rich貧富
一贫如洗yìpínrúxǐpenniless一貧如洗
贫农pínnóngpoor peasant貧農
贫乏pínfálacking貧乏
贫苦pínkǔpoor貧苦
贫瘠pínjíbarren貧瘠
脱贫致富tuōpínzhìfùpoverty alleviation脫貧致富
贫道píndàopoor Taoist貧道
脱贫tuōpínto lift oneself out of poverty脫貧
贫寒pínhánpoor貧寒
贫嘴pínzuǐtalkative貧嘴
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 贫
What does 贫困 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 贫
Both 贫 (pín) and 穷 (qióng) mean 'poor,' but 贫 often emphasizes a lack of resources, while 穷 may refer to an ongoing state of being poor.
Yes, 贫 can describe deficiencies in other areas, such as skills or qualities, depending on the context.
Yes, 贫 is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, but be aware of the emotional weight it may carry.
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