Definition

Examples

• 他最近手头很拮据，连房租都付不起了。
  Tā zuìjìn shǒutóu hěn jié jū, lián fángzū dōu fù bù qǐ le.
  He is very short of money lately—can't even afford the rent.
• 经济不景气，许多家庭都感到拮据。
  Jīngjì bù jǐngqì, xǔduō jiātíng dōu gǎndào jié jū.
  With the economic downturn, many families are feeling financially strained.
• 自从失业以后，他的生活一直很拮据。
  Zìcóng shīyè yǐhòu, tā de shēnghuó yìzhí hěn jié jū.
  Since losing his job, his life has been very hard up.