窘迫 jiǒngpò poverty-stricken
poverty-stricken; very poor; hard-pressed; in a predicament; embarrassed
How to remember 窘迫: 窘 distressed + 迫 to compel = poverty-stricken.
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How it is used
- Two senses: (1) financially hard-pressed - 经济窘迫 (jīngjì jiǒngpò) in dire straits; (2) embarrassed and awkward - 处境窘迫 to be in an embarrassing bind.
- More literary and stronger than 尴尬 (gāngà, awkward); often about being cornered by circumstance.
- Register: written; describes both money troubles and acute social discomfort.