两手空空 (liǎngshǒukōngkōng): empty-handed

Meanings

1 empty-handed
2 having nothing; penniless

Characters

两

Examples

他来到这个城市时两手空空。

Tā láidào zhège chéngshì shí liǎngshǒukōngkōng.

He arrived in this city empty-handed.

投资失败后，他两手空空。

Tóuzī shībài hòu, tā liǎngshǒukōngkōng.

After the investment failed, he was left with nothing.

Tips

memory

两手 (two hands) + 空空 (empty empty) — both hands are completely empty. Picture holding out both palms with nothing in them.

Stroke Order

两 liǎng

手 shǒu

空 kōng

Related Words

空手 kōngshǒu #6,474

empty-handed / bare-handed / with nothing

两手 liǎngshǒu HSK 6 #45,739

both hands / two-pronged (strategy); dual approach / a skill; a few tricks

空 kōng HSK 4 #1,280

empty; hollow / air; sky / in vain; for nothing

两者 liǎngzhě #4,432

both / the two / both parties

两 liǎng HSK 2 #121

two / both / a couple of

两边 liǎngbiān HSK 4 #6,479

both sides / either side

两三 liǎngsān #8,243

two or three; a few; a couple of

两百万 liǎngbǎiwàn #8,060

two million; 2,000,000

两千 liǎngqiān #8,653

two thousand; 2,000

空虚 kōngxū HSK 7 #7,679

empty / hollow / void (emotionally)