Definition
哭穷 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to complain about being poor' or 'to play poor' — it describes the act of deliberately claiming to have no money, often when the speaker actually has enough. The verb 哭 ('cry') and the adjective 穷 ('poor') split when inserting aspect or measure words: 哭什么穷 ('why are you playing poor?'), 哭了一回穷 ('went on a round of complaining about being poor'). It carries a slightly negative or sarcastic tone, implying the person is exaggerating or lying about their financial situation.
v.o.
to complain about being poor (often insincerely)to play poorto cry poverty
Examples
- ，哭穷。Tā míngmíng hěn yǒu qián, què zǒng ài kū qióng.He's clearly very rich, yet he always likes to play poor.
- ，？Bié kū qióng le, shuí bù zhīdào nǐ gāng mǎi le xīn fáng?Stop crying poverty — who doesn't know you just bought a new house?
- ，。Tā měi cì jùhuì dōu kū yì huí qióng, dàjiā dōu bú ài tīng le.Every time at the gathering he goes on a round of complaining about being poor, and everyone is tired of hearing it.
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