貧乏

びんぼう · binbou · JLPT N1 · na-adj

poor

貧 = poor, 乏 = lacking: two words for being short of something, combined into poverty.

貧 means poor, and 乏 means scarce or running short (as in 欠乏, shortage). Together 貧乏 describes being destitute and lacking the basics.