How to Write 穷 (qióng) — Meaning “Poor / exhausted”

Imagine a person (力) struggling to push out of a cave (穴) because they are too poor to afford proper tools. This image of being trapped in a cave with only strength but no resources helps link the shape to the meaning of 'poor' or 'exhausted'.

Write the top radical 穴 first (点, 点, 横撇/横钩, 撇, 点) then the bottom component 力 (横折钩, 撇). A common mistake is making the bottom 力 too wide — it should stay narrow under the cave radical. Ensure the last stroke of 力 (撇) does not extend too far left.

穴 (xué) means 'cave' or 'hole' and is just the top radical alone, while 穷 adds 力 for a different meaning. 穵 (wā) is a rare character meaning 'to dig', which has the same top but a different bottom component — 穵 uses 乙 instead of 力. In modern usage, only 穷 is common for 'poor', while 穴 appears in compound words like 洞穴 (cave).

穷 is commonly used to describe financial poverty, as in 贫穷 (poverty) or 穷人 (poor people), but it also means 'exhausted' or 'endless' in words like 无穷 (infinite). In Chinese culture, being 穷 is not just about money but also about lacking resources or opportunities, and the phrase 穷则思变 means 'poverty leads to a desire for change'.

Common words containing 穷 include: 贫穷 (pín qióng) — Poor / Poverty; 穷人 (qióng rén) — Poor people; 无穷 (wú qióng) — Infinite / endless.