JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji
乏 — destitution
- Reading
- ボウ・とぼ.しい・とも.しい
- Meaning
- destitution; scarce; limited
- JLPT level
- N1
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
乏 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is ボウ・とぼ.しい・とも.しい and it means destitution; scarce; limited. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
乏 appears in everyday japanese words such as 欠乏 (want), 窮乏 (poverty) and 貧乏 (poverty).
Japanese words containing 乏
Frequently asked questions
What does 乏 mean in Japanese?
乏 means destitution; scarce; limited in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 乏 read?
乏 is read ボウ・とぼ.しい・とも.しい. Reading it inside real words — 欠乏 and 窮乏 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 乏 — is it JLPT N1?
Yes. 乏 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 乏 in a word?
A common word containing 乏 is 欠乏 (けつぼう) — "want". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 乏 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 乏 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Learn every JLPT kanji in context
InputDojo gives you the full JLPT N5–N1 kanji list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Japanese content. Free to start.
Start free