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yī 一 wú 无 suǒ 所 yǒu 有

一无所有 yī wú suǒ yǒu

to have nothing at all; penniless

Literally: one not-have that-which have

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Appears in Tang-dynasty Dunhuang texts; popularised in modern China by Cui Jian's 1986 rock song of the same name.

How to use it

Predicate; negative to neutral. Often 变得一无所有.

Example sentences

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  1. 一场大火以后，他们一无所有了。
    Yī chǎng dàhuǒ yǐhòu, tāmen yī wú suǒ yǒu le.
    After the fire they were left with nothing.
    one (measure) big-fire after, they one not-have that-which have (particle)
  2. 他刚来北京的时候一无所有，现在有了自己的家。
    Tā gāng lái Běijīng de shíhou yī wú suǒ yǒu, xiànzài yǒu le zìjǐ de jiā.
    When he first came to Beijing he had nothing; now he has a home of his own.
    he just come Beijing (particle) time one not-have that-which have, now have (particle) self (particle) home

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