JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji
窮 — hard up
- Reading
- キュウ・キョウ・きわ.める・きわ.まる・きわ.まり・きわ.み
- Meaning
- hard up; destitute; suffer; perplexed; cornered
- JLPT level
- N1
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
窮 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is キュウ・キョウ・きわ.める・きわ.まる・きわ.まり・きわ.み and it means hard up; destitute; suffer; perplexed; cornered. 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.
窮 appears in everyday japanese words such as 窮乏 (poverty) and 窮屈 (narrow).
Japanese words containing 窮
Frequently asked questions
What does 窮 mean in Japanese?
窮 means hard up; destitute; suffer; perplexed; cornered in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 窮 read?
窮 is read キュウ・キョウ・きわ.める・きわ.まる・きわ.まり・きわ.み. Reading it inside real words — 窮乏 and 窮屈 — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 窮 — is it JLPT N1?
Yes. 窮 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 窮 in a word?
A common word containing 窮 is 窮乏 (きゅうぼう) — "poverty". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 窮 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 窮 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