dirt-poor; destitute; penniless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
as poor as a church mouse; utterly destitute; dirt-poor
literaryThis chengyu literally means 'as poor as if washed by water.' It is used to describe extreme poverty where someone possesses absolutely nothing. Suitable for both written and spoken contexts, though slightly formal and emphatic.
Tā他
jiā家
yī一
pín贫
rú如
xǐ洗
，
lián连
jī基
běn本
de的
wēn温
bǎo饱
dōu都
chéng成
wèn问
tí题
。
His family is dirt-poor; even basic food and shelter are problems.
Jǐn尽
guǎn管
rú如
jīn今
yī一
pín贫
rú如
xǐ洗
，
dàn但
tā他
yī依
rán然
bǎo保
chí持
zhe着
lè乐
guān观
de的
xīn心
tài态
。
Although he is now utterly destitute, he still maintains an optimistic attitude.
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Zhè这
wèi位
fù富
háo豪
pò破
chǎn产
hòu后
biàn变
de得
yī一
pín贫
rú如
xǐ洗
。
This tycoon became penniless after going bankrupt.
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
，
xǔ许
duō多
nóng农
mín民
yī一
pín贫
rú如
xǐ洗
，
shēng生
huó活
shí十
fēn分
bēi悲
cǎn惨
。
In the old society, many peasants were as poor as church mice, living miserable lives.