have no superfluous possessions; be destitute or frugal
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to have no extra or surplus possessions; to be destitute or extremely frugal
literaryClassical idiom. The character 长 is traditionally read zhàng (4th tone) in this context, meaning 'surplus' or 'extra', though modern pronunciation often uses cháng.
Tā他
jiā家
lǐ里
bié别
wú无
cháng长
wù物
，
zhǐ只
yǒu有
yī一
zhāng张
chuáng床
hé和
yī一
zhāng张
zhuō桌
zi子
。
His home had no superfluous possessions—only a bed and a table.
Bié别
kàn看
wǒ我
xiàn现
zài在
bié别
wú无
cháng长
wù物
，
dàn但
wǒ我
jīng精
shén神
fù富
zú足
。
Don't look at me now as having nothing; I am spiritually wealthy.
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Fáng房
jiān间
lǐ里
bié别
wú无
cháng长
wù物
，
xiǎn显
de得
shí十
fēn分
jiǎn简
pǔ朴
。
The room contained nothing extraneous, appearing extremely simple.
Tā他
guò过
zhe着
bié别
wú无
cháng长
wù物
de的
qīng清
kǔ苦
shēng生
huó活
，
què却
lè乐
zài在
qí其
zhōng中
。
He lived a poor life without material possessions, yet found joy in it.