worldly possessions; external things of little importance
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
worldly possessions; things external to one's body (referring to property, wealth, etc., implying they are of little importance compared to life/health)
literaryThis idiom is used to express a philosophical attitude that material possessions are temporary and insignificant compared to one's life, health, or personal integrity. It often appears in contexts discussing detachment from wealth, facing mortality, or prioritizing spiritual over material values.
Qián钱
cái财
nǎi乃
shēn身
wài外
zhī之
wù物
，
shēng生
bù不
dài带
lái来
，
sǐ死
bù不
dài带
qù去
。
Wealth is but external to the body; one does not bring it when born, nor take it when one dies.
Tā他
bǎ把
míng名
lì利
kàn看
zuò作
shēn身
wài外
zhī之
wù物
，
cóng从
bù不
fàng放
zài在
xīn心
shàng上
。
He regards fame and fortune as worldly possessions, never keeping them in his thoughts.
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Hé何
bì必
wèi为
le了
zhè这
xiē些
shēn身
wài外
zhī之
wù物
fán烦
nǎo恼
ne呢
？
Why worry about these external things?
Zài在
shēng生
sǐ死
guān关
tóu头
，
yī一
qiè切
dōu都
shì是
shēn身
wài外
zhī之
wù物
。
At the critical moment of life and death, everything is external to the body.