乏
destitution · scarce · limited
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Reversed shape of correct. Lacking.
Symbolism
Poor, lacking, shortage. Represents lacking.
Component Breakdown
丿 + 之
Words & Expressions
Words written with 乏
Four-Character Compounds
器用貧乏
きようびんぼう
jack of all trades, master of none
耐乏生活
たいぼうせいかつ
hard life; life of austerity
困苦欠乏
こんくけつぼう
hardships and privations
困苦窮乏
こんくきゅうぼう
hardships and privations
Anime & Manga
勇者パーティを追い出された器用貧乏
Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None
A well-known work with 乏 in its Japanese title.
貧乏神が!
Good Luck Girl!
A well-known work with 乏 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 乏 mean in Japanese?
乏 means destitution, scarce, limited.
How do you read 乏?
On'yomi: ボウ (BOU). Kun'yomi: とぼ.しい、とも.しい (toboshii, tomoshii).
How many strokes does 乏 have?
乏 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 丿 (slash).
Is 乏 a good kanji for a tattoo?
乏 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means destitution, scarce, limited. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.