一丝不挂

一絲不掛
yìsī-búguà
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 stark naked; without a stitch of clothing
  2. 2 in one's birthday suit

Examples

HSK 5
Xiǎohái zài yùgāng lǐ wán shuǐ, yìsībúguà.
The child splashes around in the bathtub, stark naked.
HSK 6
Tā yìsībúguà de chōng jìn yùshì.
He rushed into the bathroom without a stitch on.
HSK 7-9
Huà zhōng de rénwù yìsībúguà, què háowú dīsú zhī gǎn.
The figure in the painting is completely nude, yet there's nothing crude about it.

Tips

history
From the Buddhist 《楞严经》: '一丝不挂竿木随身' - originally 'not a single thread attaches [to one's mind],' meaning a mind free of attachments. The secular meaning 'not wearing a single thread, naked' developed later by taking the image literally.
mistakes
Despite its Buddhist origin about mental detachment, modern usage is almost entirely physical nakedness. Using it to mean 'free of worldly cares' will confuse listeners - use 心无挂碍 or 无牵无挂 for that sense.

Stroke Order

guà