身无分文

身無分文

shēnwú-fēnwén

idiom #10,628

Meanings

1 penniless
2 completely broke
3 without a cent to one's name

Characters

a fraction; cent

penny (old currency unit)

Examples

HSK 3

她刚到城市的时候身无分文。

Tā gāng dào chéngshì de shíhou shēnwú-fēnwén.

When she first arrived in the city, she was completely broke.

HSK 6

他赌博输光了，身无分文。

Tā dǔbó shūguāng le, shēnwú-fēnwén.

He lost everything gambling and was left penniless.

Tips

memory

身 (body/person) + 无 (without) + 分文 (a single cent) = not a single cent on one's person.

Stroke Order

身 shēn

无 wú

分 fēn

文 wén