窮匱（qióng kuì）

Pronunciation: qióng kuì

Basic Meaning: extreme poverty

Detailed Explanation: 窮匱 refers to a state of extreme poverty, where one lacks the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter. It emphasizes a severe lack or scarcity of resources, leading to a difficult and impoverished life.

Usage Scenarios: This idiom is often used to describe someone who is extremely poor and living in destitution. It can also be used figuratively to describe a situation or condition of extreme scarcity or shortage, beyond just financial poverty.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient China. In ancient times, when there was a severe famine or drought, people would suffer from extreme poverty and lack of basic necessities. The idiom "窮匱" was created to depict this dire situation and the hardships faced by those in extreme poverty.

Structure of the Idiom: The idiom "窮匱" consists of two characters. "窮" means poor or impoverished, while "匱" means lacking or scarcity.

Example Sentences:

1. 他生活在窮匱之中，每天只能勉強維持生計。

Translation: He lives in extreme poverty and can barely make ends meet every day.

2. 這個地區長期缺水，人們一直生活在窮匱之中。

Translation: The region has been suffering from long-term water shortage, and people have been living in extreme scarcity.

Memory Techniques: To remember the meaning of "窮匱," you can associate "窮" with poverty and "匱" with a lack of resources. You can imagine a person living in a small room with no furniture and very little food, symbolizing extreme poverty and scarcity.

Extended Learning: To further understand the concept of poverty, you can explore related idioms and vocabulary, such as "貧窮" (pín qióng) meaning poverty, "赤貧" (chì pín) meaning extremely poor, or "貧困線" (pín kùn xiàn) meaning poverty line.

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children (7-12 years old): 我們應該幫助那些生活在窮匱中的孩子，讓他們有更好的生活條件。

Translation: We should help children who live in extreme poverty and provide them with better living conditions.

2. Teenagers (13-18 years old): 窮匱并不是一個人的錯，我們應該共同努力，為社會創造更多機會，讓每個人都能擺脫貧困。

Translation: Extreme poverty is not the fault of individuals. We should work together to create more opportunities in society, so that everyone can escape poverty.

3. Adults (above 18 years old): 窮匱是社會問題，我們需要通過改革和政策來減少貧困人口，實現社會的公平與發展。

Translation: Extreme poverty is a social issue. We need to reduce the number of people living in poverty through reforms and policies, in order to achieve social fairness and development.