门可罗雀

門可羅雀

ménkěluóquè

idiom #56,613

Meanings

1 you could net sparrows at the door
2 deserted; no visitors
3 desolate and forgotten

Characters

to net; to catch with a net

sparrow; small bird

Examples

这家餐厅以前顾客盈门，现在却门可罗雀。

Zhè jiā cāntīng yǐqián gùkè yíng mén, xiànzài què ménkěluóquè.

This restaurant used to be packed with customers, but now it's completely deserted.

他失势后，家里门可罗雀，昔日的朋友都不见了。

Tā shīshì hòu, jiālǐ ménkěluóquè, xīrì de péngyǒu dōu bú jiàn le.

After he lost his position, his home grew deserted — his former friends all disappeared.

Tips

history

From 《史记·汲郑列传》: when the minister Zhai Gong was in office his gate was thronged with guests; when he was dismissed it grew so quiet one could stretch a net across it and catch sparrows. He inscribed his door with a bitter poem about fair-weather friends.

usage

Strong contrast word — almost always set against a former state of popularity. Typical template: '以前...，现在却门可罗雀'. Antonym: 门庭若市 (gate like a marketplace — crowded with visitors).

Stroke Order

门 mén

可 kě

罗 luó

雀 què