Word · Frequency #9607
meager
微薄的；不足的；贫乏的
deficient in amount, quality, or extent
- 1.
deficient in amount or quality or extent
在数量、质量或程度上不足的
在数量、质量或程度上不足的；质量差的；贫乏的；不毛的；瘦的
In use
The refugees survived on meager rations of rice and beans.
His meager salary could hardly cover the rent.
The report gave only meager details about the accident.
meager resources
meager fare
a meager + NOUN
修饰名词，表示该事物数量或质量不足。
They ate a meager meal of bread and water.
他们吃了一顿只有面包和水的简陋饭菜。
be meager
作表语，描述主语贫乏或不足。
The attendance at the meeting was meager.
会议的出席人数寥寥无几。
meager in + NOUN
后接名词，说明在某方面贫乏。
The soil is meager in nutrients.
这片土壤缺乏养分。
Common mistakes
There were meager people at the meeting.There were few people at the meeting.
meager 表示'贫乏、不足'，通常修饰不可数名词或抽象概念（如收入、资源），不用于修饰可数复数名词（如 people）。表示数量少应用 few。
The meager of the harvest disappointed farmers.The meagerness of the harvest disappointed farmers.
meager 是形容词，不能直接作名词。表示'贫乏'的名词形式是 meagerness（或 meagreness），应使用名词形式作为主语。
Connections
Collocations
- meager salary
- 微薄的薪水
- He worked long hours for a meager salary.他为了微薄的薪水长时间工作。
- meager income
- 微薄的收入
- They struggled to survive on a meager income.他们靠微薄的收入艰难度日。
- meager diet
- 贫乏的饮食
- The prisoners were kept on a meager diet.囚犯们仅靠贫乏的饮食维持生命。
- meager resources
- 匮乏的资源
- The rescue team had meager resources to deal with the disaster.救援队只有匮乏的资源来应对灾难。
- meager harvest
- 歉收的收成
- The farmers faced a meager harvest after the drought.干旱之后，农民们面临着歉收的收成。
Idioms & figurative uses
Learner notes
Memory Tip
想象一顿饭只有几粒米（meager 音近“米格”），分量微薄，不够吃——记“不足的”。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：报纸或新闻报道、正式报告与总结、资源或条件的客观描述 meager 属于中性但略偏正式的用词，通常多用于书面语、新闻报道或正式总结，表示数量、质量或程度不足；日常口语中较少使用，更常说 small 或 not enough。
Grammar Note
作定语或表语，表示数量少或质量差
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 meager 押韵的是 eager（/ˈiɡɚ/），重读音节元音 /i/ 及之后的 /ɡɚ/ 完全一致。注意 tiger 虽也以 -ger 结尾且 g 发 /ɡ/，但元音是 /aɪ/，不押韵；manager 以 -ager 结尾，g 却发 /dʒ/，发音明显不同。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.