贫困 pínkùn impoverished
impoverished; poverty
How to remember 贫困: 贫 poor + 困 sleepy = impoverished.
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How it is used
- Poverty-stricken / impoverished - 贫困地区 (pínkùn dìqū) impoverished region, 脱贫 to escape poverty.
- Formal word for serious, structural poverty; policy register: 贫困户 (pínkùn hù) poverty-line household, 扶贫 poverty relief.
- Stronger and more official than 穷 (qióng, poor); note 困 here is 'hardship', not 'sleepy'.