[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Wealth # 穷 qióng poor ## Components [[穴 xué]] [[穴 (xué)]] [[力 lì]] [[力 (lì)]] ## Meaning Today, the character 穷 (qióng) primarily means "poor" or "impoverished." It is often used to describe a lack of financial resources or material wealth, as in 穷人 (qióngrén), meaning "poor people." Additionally, 穷 can also mean "to exhaust" or "to reach an end," as in 穷尽 (qióngjìn), meaning "to exhaust" or "to deplete." The character retains its original sense of being at the limit or in a difficult situation, while its primary association in modern usage is with poverty. ## History The character 穷 (qióng) is a compound ideogram. It combines 穴 (cave) and 躬 (to bend or bow), with 躬 also serving as the phonetic element. This composition suggests the image of a person in a cave searching for an exit. In its simplified form, it includes 穴 and 力 (strength), representing the effort made to find a way out of a difficult situation. The original meaning of 穷 is "the end" or "extremity." Overall, the character conveys the idea of reaching a limit or being trapped, often associated with poverty or difficult circumstances. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ？ ### Bronze Script ？ ### Seal Script ![[穷 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[穷 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[穷 reg.svg]]