penniless; without a cent
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
penniless; not to have a cent to one's name
formalLiterally means 'not possessing one copper coin'. The character 名 here is used as a verb meaning 'to possess, own'. An alternative form is 不名一钱.
Tā他
dāng当
shí时
bù不
míng名
yī一
wén文
，
lián连
huí回
jiā家
de的
lù路
fèi费
dōu都
méi没
yǒu有
。
He was penniless at the time and did not even have the fare to go home.
Zhè这
gè个
céng曾
jīng经
fù富
jiǎ甲
yī一
fāng方
de的
rén人
，
rú如
jīn今
jìng竟
rán然
bù不
míng名
yī一
wén文
。
This person who was once extremely wealthy is now surprisingly penniless.
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Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
xiàn现
zài在
bù不
míng名
yī一
wén文
，
nǐ你
huì会
zěn怎
me么
zuò做
？
If you were penniless right now, what would you do?