Chinese word

倾家荡产

Pronunciation

Pinyinqīng jiā dàng chǎn

Meaning

  • verblose all one's money

Example

因医疗费，他倾家荡产了。yīn yī liáo fèi tā qīng jiā dàng chǎn le

Because of medical expenses, he lost all his money.

Illustration for 倾家荡产 (lose all one's money)

More examples

那场火灾让他们一夜之间倾家荡产。nà chǎng huǒ zāi ràng tā men yí yè zhī jiān qīng jiā dàng chǎn

That fire made them lose all their money overnight.

Core concept

A family's entire financial base is overturned and swept away by a major loss.

Common phrases

  • 彻底倾家荡产chè dǐ qīng jiā dàng chǎn

    lose all one's money completely

  • 一夜之间倾家荡产yí yè zhī jiān qīng jiā dàng chǎn

    lose all one's money overnight

Similar words

破产pò chǎn: Being unable to pay debts and losing most property through legal bankruptcy or financial collapse.

Definition in Chinese

因重大损失或灾祸而失去全部家产，家庭陷入破产。yīn zhòng dà sǔn shī huò zāi huò ér shī qù quán bù jiā chǎn jiā tíng xiàn rù pò chǎn

Word origin

倾 (qīng, "overturn") + 家 (jiā, "household") joins 荡 (dàng, "sweep away") + 产 (chǎn, "property") to picture a household overturned and its property cleared out.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this is much stronger than an ordinary loss of money and fits serious debt, medical costs, or disaster rather than a small expense.

Other meanings

  • go bankruptverb

Opposites

  • 发家致富fā jiā zhì fùbecome richverb

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