The Vietnamese word "nghèo nàn" is an adjective that describes a state of being very poor or lacking basic necessities. It can be translated into English as "destitute," "poverty-stricken," or "miserable."
While "nghèo nàn" specifically refers to poverty, the root word "nghèo" can be used in different contexts to describe things that are lacking or insufficient, although it usually retains the connotation of poverty.