kung4 kwan3窮困穷困

Jyutpingkung4 kwan3

Yalekùhng kwan

形容詞Rare

Definition

Poor and destitute; lacking money or daily necessities.

neutralmoneypeople

How it's used

Focuses on the state of lacking basic necessities or living in severe financial hardship rather than just having less money than others. It carries a more formal or descriptive tone compared to the common spoken term 窮. Use it when discussing social issues or describing someone's difficult life circumstances.

Examples

keoi5佢sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣uk1屋kei2企hou2好kung4窮kwan3困。

His family was very poor when he was young.

dim2點gaai2解nei5你wui2會gok3覺dak1得keoi5佢sang1生wut6活kung4窮kwan3困aa1呀？

Why do you think he is living in poverty?

Common phrases

sang1生wut6活kung4窮kwan3困

living in poverty

ging1經zai3濟kung4窮kwan3困

financially destitute

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply broke or short on cash for a specific purchase, as it implies a long-term, systemic lack of resources. For temporary lack of money, use 冇錢 instead.