What does 贫乏 mean in Chinese?

贫乏 (pín fá) means "impoverished; lacking; deficient; limited; meager; impoverishment; lack; deficiency" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 7-9.

How do you pronounce 贫乏?

贫乏 is pronounced "pín fá" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 2 syllables.

What HSK level is 贫乏?

贫乏 is an HSK 7-9 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 6 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one.

What characters make up 贫乏?

贫乏 is made up of the characters 贫, 乏. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.

How do you write 贫乏?

You can practice writing 贫乏 using our stroke order tool.

贫乏 (pín fá), impoverished

贫乏

pín fá

impoverished; lacking; deficient; limited

HSK 7-9 Was HSK 6

Traditional: 貧乏

Characters in This Word

贫乏

Definitions

impoverished
lacking
deficient
limited
meager
impoverishment
lack
deficiency

Example Sentences

Example sentences coming soon.

Related Words

争(zhēng)· to strive for

→

不足(bù zú)· insufficient

→

匮(kuì)· to lack

→

缺德(quē dé)· to be lacking in moral sense

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 7-9
HSK 2.0: HSK 6
HSK Lord study list: Not on a list

贫乏: HSK 6 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 7-9 exam

Studying for HSK 7-9? Keep 贫乏 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.