Chinese word

一无所有

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī wú suǒ yǒu

Meaning

  • idiomhave nothing

Example

他现在一无所有。tā xiàn zài yì wú suó yǒu

He has nothing now.

Illustration for 一无所有 (have nothing)

More examples

这场火灾使许多居民一无所有。zhè chǎng huǒ zāi shǐ xǔ duō jū mín yì wú suó yǒu

This fire left many residents with nothing.

Core concept

A life stripped of every possession, with nothing left to claim as one's own.

Common phrases

  • 几乎一无所有jī hū yì wú suó yǒu

    have almost nothing

  • 从一无所有到富有cóng yì wú suó yǒu dào fù yǒu

    from having nothing to becoming wealthy

Similar words

两手空空liáng shǒu kōng kōng: Having empty hands and no money or belongings at hand.
家徒四壁jiā tú sì bì: Having a home that is almost bare, with very little furniture or household goods.
身无分文shēn wú fēn wén: Having no cash at all.
一贫如洗yì pín rú xǐ: Living in extreme poverty with almost no money or possessions.

Definition in Chinese

没有任何财物或可称为自己的东西，处于完全空无的状态。méi yǒu rèn hé cái wù huò kě chēng wéi zì jǐ de dōng xī chǔ yú wán quán kōng wú de zhuàng tài

Word origin

The four parts 一 (yī, "one"), 无 (wú, "not have"), 所 (suǒ, "that which"), and 有 (yǒu, "possess") combine to express the complete absence of anything owned.

Usage tips

  • The idiom suits serious descriptions of hardship or loss, while ordinary conversations about an empty bag or a missing object normally call for less sweeping wording.

Other meanings

  • have no moneyidiom

Opposites

  • 腰缠万贯yāo chán wàn guànbe very wealthyidiom

Word lists with this word