poor, humble dwelling; makeshift house
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a dwelling with a door made of rushes and windows made of broken jars; describes an extremely poor and crude dwelling; makeshift abode
literaryA classical idiom from ancient Chinese texts, used metaphorically to describe extreme poverty and a simple, rustic lifestyle. It is literary and formal in register.
Tā他
suī虽
shēn身
jū居
péng蓬
hù户
wèng瓮
yǒu牖
，
què却
xiōng胸
huái怀
tiān天
xià下
。
Although he lived in a crude, impoverished hut, he harbored ambitions for the whole country.
Gǔ古
shí时
xǔ许
duō多
xián贤
shì士
ān安
yú于
péng蓬
hù户
wèng瓮
yǒu牖
de的
shēng生
huó活
。
In ancient times, many virtuous scholars were content with a life in a humble, makeshift dwelling.
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《
Lǐ礼
jì记
》
zhōng中
tí提
dào到
，
shì士
ān安
yú于
pín贫
，
kě可
“
péng蓬
hù户
wèng瓮
yǒu牖
”
。
The Book of Rites mentions that a scholar who is content with poverty can live in 'a hut with a rush door and jar windows.'