penniless; broke; empty pockets
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
penniless; having no money at all; with empty pockets
literaryLiterary idiom (chengyu) describing complete destitution. Literally 'pockets empty as if washed'.
Tā他
tóu投
zī资
shī失
bài败
hòu后
，
biàn变
de得
náng囊
kōng空
rú如
xǐ洗
。
After his investment failed, he became completely penniless.
Wǒ我
dāng当
shí时
náng囊
kōng空
rú如
xǐ洗
，
lián连
huí回
jiā家
de的
chē车
piào票
dōu都
mǎi买
bu不
qǐ起
。
I was broke at the time, and couldn't even afford a ticket home.
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Bié别
kàn看
tā他
xiàn现
zài在
náng囊
kōng空
rú如
xǐ洗
，
yǐ以
qián前
kě可
shì是
gè个
yāo腰
chán缠
wàn万
guàn贯
de的
fù富
wēng翁
。
Don't look at him being penniless now; he used to be a millionaire with vast wealth.
Zhè这
chǎng场
bìng病
ràng让
tā他
hào耗
jìn尽
le了
jī积
xù蓄
，
rú如
jīn今
yǐ已
shì是
náng囊
kōng空
rú如
xǐ洗
。
This illness drained his savings, and now he is destitute.