Translation and Meaning of: 飢饉 - kikin
On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 飢饉 (kikin) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.
Romaji: kikin
Kana: ききん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2
Translation / Meaning: hunger
Meaning in English: famine
Definition: Severe shortage of food leaving many people hungry.
Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases
Explanation and Etymology - (飢饉) kikin
The word 「飢饉」 (kikin) is used to describe a period of severe famine, where there is an extreme shortage of food, resulting in suffering and mortality among the population. In history, there have been many significant events of 「飢饉」 that shaped the society and culture of a country. Japan, for example, suffered from several of these crises throughout its history, which were often caused by natural disasters, failed harvests, or poor governmental management.
Etymologically, 「飢饉」 is composed of two kanji: 「飢」 (ki), which means "hunger", and 「饉」 (kin), which refers to "scarcity" or "shortage". The radical 「食」, related to food or nutrition, is an integral part of both kanji, directly reflecting the theme of lack of food. This combination of characters leaves no doubt about the meaning and the implicit gravity of the term, evoking images of severe deprivation.
The periods of 「飢饉」 in Japanese history often had a significant impact on society. For example, the Great Famine of Kyōhō (1732-1733) and the Tempo Famine (1833-1837) are notable events that not only resulted in terrible human losses but also generated significant social and political changes, leading the government to implement reforms to prevent future occurrences. These crisis periods forced the population to find creative solutions for survival and adapt agricultural and communal practices.
The word 「飢饉」 is also used metaphorically to describe any situation of extreme lack or deficiency, not just related to food. This flexibility in the use of the term illustrates how language can evolve to encompass different contexts while still maintaining a connection to its original meaning of severe scarcity and need.
Synonyms and similar words
- 飢え (uesu) - Hunger, the state of being hungry.
- 飢餓 (kiga) - Extreme hunger, usually associated with food shortages.
- 飢きん (kikin) - Hunger or food scarcity in a region, often used in contexts of disaster or crisis.
Words related
Words with the same pronunciation: ききん kikin
How to Write in Japanese - (飢饉) kikin
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (飢饉) kikin:
Example Sentences - (飢饉) kikin
Below are some example sentences:
Kikin wa hitobito ni totte ookina kurushimi desu
Hunger is a great pain for people.
A famine is a great suffering for people.
- 飢饉 (jikin) - extreme hunger, scarcity of food
- は (wa) - topic marker, indicates that what follows is the subject of the sentence
- 人々 (hitobito) - people, human beings
- にとって (nitotte) - for, regarding, from the point of view of
- 大きな (ookina) - great, important
- 苦しみ (kurushimi) - suffering, pain, distress
- です (desu) - verb "to be" in polite form
Other words of the same type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
