Meaning and Usage
"貧乏" (びんぼう) means poverty or being poor. It is a noun and can also be used adjectivally to describe a state of lacking money or resources.
Common Contexts
It is often used to describe financial hardship or lack of wealth. For example, "貧乏だった" means "was poor." It can also appear in idiomatic expressions like "貧乏ゆすり" (leg shaking), which refers to a nervous habit.
Register and Nuance
"貧乏" is a neutral term but can carry a slightly negative nuance depending on context. It is not a formal or polite word, so it is mostly used in casual or narrative contexts.
Common Collocations
- 貧乏になる: to become poor
- 貧乏生活: poor life, life in poverty
- 貧乏ゆすり: leg shaking (nervous habit)
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse "貧乏" with "貧困" (ひんこん), which is a more formal term for poverty often used in official or academic contexts. "貧乏" is more common in everyday speech. Also, "貧乏ゆすり" is a fixed phrase and does not literally mean "poor shaking."