What is the meaning and reading of the kanji "窮"?

The kanji "窮" belongs to JLPT N1 and means "Exhausted, Destitute, Investigate". Its Onyomi is "キュウ (kyuu)" and Kunyomi is "きわ (きわめる), きわ (きわまる)".

JLPT N1

窮

Exhausted, Destitute, Investigate

Q: Is there a memory mnemonic for "窮"?

Yes! Radical breakdown: "穴 (hole) + 弓 (bow)". Mnemonic Story: "You've been hunting all day with your BOW (弓), but you're so utterly EXHAUSTED and DESTITUTE, you have no choice but to retreat into a dark HOLE (穴) or cave to rest. You've reached the extreme limits of your endurance, completely depleted."

Onyomi

キュウ (kyuu)

Kunyomi

きわ (きわめる), きわ (きわまる)

🧠 Memory Mnemonic

🔍 Radical Breakdown

穴 (hole) + 弓 (bow)

📖 Mnemonic Story

You've been hunting all day with your BOW (弓), but you're so utterly EXHAUSTED and DESTITUTE, you have no choice but to retreat into a dark HOLE (穴) or cave to rest. You've reached the extreme limits of your endurance, completely depleted.

💡 Quick Hint: Bow in a hole

Essential N1 Vocabulary

貧窮

ひんきゅう

Poverty, destitution

窮地

きゅうち

Dilemma, predicament

窮極

きゅうきょく

Ultimate, eventual

Kanji Practice Quiz

Verify your memory for "窮"

多くの人々が＿＿＿＿＿にあえいでいる。

🎉 正解 / Correct!

解説: 貧窮は「ひんきゅう」と読みます。
English: Poverty is read as 'hinkyuu'.

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