Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
Historical forms are not available yet. The current form is shown as a reference.
The character 窮 (qióng) evolved from ancient pictographs depicting a person bent over in a confined space, combining the radical 'cave/hole' (穴) with the component indicating 'body/bending' (躬). Originally meaning 'to reach the end' or 'to be in extreme circumstances,' it conveys the sense of being at one's limit - physically constrained or without resources. Over time, it developed meanings including 'poor,' 'exhausted,' 'thoroughly investigate' (as in pursuing something to its end), and 'having no way out.' The character beautifully captures the concept of reaching absolute boundaries, whether spatial, financial, or intellectual. Arrived in Japan: The character 窮 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China and Korea, likely as part of the introduction of Chinese writing systems. It was formally incorporated into Japanese writing during the systematic adoption of Chinese characters that began in the 5th century CE, particularly through Buddhist texts and Confucian classics. The character maintains similar meanings in Japanese (kyū), expressing poverty, extremity, and thorough investigation.