====== pínkùn: 贫困 - Poverty, Impoverished, Poor ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** pínkùn, pín kùn, 贫困, poverty in Chinese, how to say poor in Chinese, Chinese word for poverty, impoverished, destitute, China poverty alleviation, 扶贫, pínkùn meaning, difference between 穷 and 贫困
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **贫困 (pínkùn)**, the formal Chinese term for "poverty" or "impoverished." This page explores its deep cultural significance, especially in the context of China's national poverty alleviation efforts. Learn how **贫困 (pínkùn)** differs from the more common word **穷 (qióng)** and see how it's used in official reports, news, and discussions about social and economic issues.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pín kùn
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** The state of being severely poor; poverty, impoverishment, or destitution.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **贫困 (pínkùn)** is a serious and formal word. It doesn't just mean you're short on cash for a coffee; it describes a severe lack of basic resources and opportunities, often on a large scale (like a region or a population). Think of the word "poverty" as used by governments, NGOs, and news reports, not the word "poor" you'd use to describe your own tight budget.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **贫 (pín):** This character is a combination of **分 (fēn)**, meaning "to divide" or "separate," and **贝 (bèi)**, the ancient character for "shell," which was used as money. Together, they paint a picture of being "separated from money" or having one's wealth divided until little is left.
  * **困 (kùn):** This is a pictograph of a **木 (mù)**, or "tree," trapped inside a **囗 (wéi)**, or "enclosure." It vividly means "trapped," "stuck," "besieged," or "in difficulty."
  * The combination of **贫 (pín)** and **困 (kùn)** creates a powerful term. It means not just a lack of money, but being **trapped by the difficulty** that this lack of money creates. It implies a systemic, hard-to-escape situation.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In modern China, **贫困 (pínkùn)** is a term of immense national importance. For decades, the Chinese government has been engaged in one of the largest **poverty alleviation (扶贫 fúpín)** campaigns in human history. Lifting hundreds of millions of citizens out of **贫困** is a cornerstone of the Communist Party's legitimacy and a source of great national pride. You will see and hear this term constantly in state media, presidential speeches, and official documents.
  * **Comparison to Western "Poverty":** While both "poverty" and **贫困 (pínkùn)** refer to a lack of resources, the Chinese context places a much stronger emphasis on it as a national, collective challenge to be overcome through state-led development. In the West, poverty is often discussed in terms of social welfare systems, individual opportunity, and charity. In China, eradicating **贫困** is framed as a key step in national rejuvenation and achieving the "Chinese Dream" (中国梦 Zhōngguó Mèng), moving the country past its "century of humiliation" and toward a "**moderately prosperous society**" (小康社会 xiǎokāng shèhuì).
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Formality:** **贫困 (pínkùn)** is a formal word used in writing and serious discussions. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation to describe one's own financial state.
  * **Connotation:** It has a heavy, serious, and negative connotation. It describes a dire situation that requires systemic solutions.
  * **Common Contexts:**
    * **News and Government:** Reporting on economic development, social programs, and aid. E.g., a "poverty-stricken county" (贫困县 pínkùn xiàn).
    * **Academia:** Sociological and economic studies on wealth disparity and development.
    * **NGOs and Charity:** Describing the communities or individuals they aim to help, e.g., "impoverished students" (贫困学生 pínkùn xuéshēng).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 中国政府致力于消除**贫困**。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ zhìlìyú xiāochú **pínkùn**.
    * English: The Chinese government is committed to eliminating poverty.
    * Analysis: Here, **贫困** is used as a noun ("poverty") in a very formal, official context.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 许多**贫困**家庭的孩子上不起大学。
    * Pinyin: Xǔduō **pínkùn** jiātíng de háizi shàng bu qǐ dàxué.
    * English: The children of many impoverished families cannot afford to go to university.
    * Analysis: Here, **贫困** is used as an adjective ("impoverished") to describe families in a serious, systemic way.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 他们的目标是帮助生活在**贫困**线以下的居民。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen de mùbiāo shì bāngzhù shēnghuó zài **pínkùn**xiàn yǐxià de jūmín.
    * English: Their goal is to help residents living below the poverty line.
    * Analysis: This example introduces the set phrase **贫困线 (pínkùnxiàn)**, "the poverty line," a standard official term.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 这个地区曾经非常**贫困**，但现在发展得很快。
    * Pinyin: Zhège dìqū céngjīng fēicháng **pínkùn**, dàn xiànzài fāzhǎn de hěn kuài.
    * English: This region used to be very impoverished, but now it is developing rapidly.
    * Analysis: This shows **贫困** as an adjective describing the economic state of a place.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 教育是摆脱**贫困**的重要途径。
    * Pinyin: Jiàoyù shì bǎituō **pínkùn** de zhòngyào tújìng.
    * English: Education is an important way to escape poverty.
    * Analysis: This shows the common and important collocation **摆脱贫困 (bǎituō pínkùn)**, "to break away from/escape poverty."
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 疾病是导致农村家庭陷入**贫困**的主要原因之一。
    * Pinyin: Jíbìng shì dǎozhì nóngcūn jiātíng xiànrù **pínkùn** de zhǔyào yuányīn zhīyī.
    * English: Illness is one of the main reasons that rural families fall into poverty.
    * Analysis: **陷入贫困 (xiànrù pínkùn)** means "to fall into poverty," highlighting a change of state.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 这项政策是为了支持**贫困**地区的经济发展。
    * Pinyin: Zhè xiàng zhèngcè shì wèile zhīchí **pínkùn** dìqū de jīngjì fāzhǎn.
    * English: This policy is meant to support the economic development of impoverished areas.
    * Analysis: **贫困地区 (pínkùn dìqū)** is a common phrase for "impoverished/poverty-stricken regions."
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 我们为**贫困**学生提供奖学金。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen wèi **pínkùn** xuéshēng tígōng jiǎngxuéjīn.
    * English: We provide scholarships for students from poor backgrounds.
    * Analysis: **贫困学生 (pínkùn xuéshēng)** is a formal term for students who are economically disadvantaged.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 经过多年的努力，他们终于**脱贫**了。
    * Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de nǔlì, tāmen zhōngyú **tuōpín** le.
    * English: After many years of effort, they finally escaped poverty.
    * Analysis: This example uses a related verb, **脱贫 (tuōpín)**, which is a shortened and common way to say "escape poverty." It's directly related to **贫困**.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * **贫困**不仅是经济问题，也是社会问题。
    * Pinyin: **Pínkùn** bùjǐn shì jīngjì wèntí, yěshì shèhuì wèntí.
    * English: Poverty is not only an economic issue, but also a social issue.
    * Analysis: This sentence treats **贫困** as an abstract concept, suitable for academic or formal discussion.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **The Biggest Mistake: Using 贫困 (pínkùn) instead of 穷 (qióng).**
  * **贫困 (pínkùn)** refers to large-scale, systemic, and severe poverty. It is formal and impersonal.
  * **穷 (qióng)** is the general, everyday word for "poor." It can be used for individuals, temporary situations, or in a casual, self-deprecating way.
  * **Incorrect Usage:**
    * `这个月我太**贫困**了，买不起新手机。` (This month I am too **impoverished**, I can't afford a new phone.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This is a personal, temporary financial situation. The scale and formality of **贫困** are inappropriate.
  * **Correct Usage:**
    * `这个月我太**穷**了，买不起新手机。` (This month I'm too **poor**, I can't afford a new phone.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[穷]] (qióng) - The common, everyday word for "poor." Use this for personal situations.
  * [[扶贫]] (fúpín) - "To support the poor"; the official term for poverty alleviation programs and policies.
  * [[脱贫]] (tuōpín) - "To escape poverty." A common goal and verb associated with anti-poverty efforts.
  * [[贫富差距]] (pínfù chājù) - "The gap between rich and poor," a major topic of social discussion.
  * [[贫困线]] (pínkùnxiàn) - "The poverty line," the official income threshold for defining poverty.
  * [[小康]] (xiǎokāng) - "Moderately prosperous." The societal goal that comes after basic needs are met and poverty is eliminated. It is the ideological opposite of **贫困**.
  * [[温饱]] (wēnbǎo) - "Warm and full." The state of having enough food and clothing; the first step out of poverty.
  * [[困难]] (kùnnan) - "Difficulty; difficult." A much more general term. **贫困** is a specific and severe type of **困难**.