Definition
一无所有 (yī wú suǒ yǒu) is a fixed idiom emphasizing total destitution or lack of possessions — 'to have nothing at all'. Unlike the flexible phrase 毫无 (háo wú, 'completely lack'), which attaches to a noun (e.g. 毫无意义), 一无所有 always stands alone as a predicate or complement and cannot be broken up.
phrase
to have nothing at allto be utterly destitute
Examples
- 一无所有。Tā pòchǎn zhīhòu biànde yī wú suǒ yǒu.After his bankruptcy, he became completely destitute.
- 一无所有,。Suīrán yī wú suǒ yǒu, tā réngrán hěn lèguān.Even though he has nothing, he is still very optimistic.
- ,一无所有。Zhège xiǎo zhèn céngjīng hěn fánhuá, xiànzài què jīhū yī wú suǒ yǒu.This small town was once prosperous, but now it has almost nothing.
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