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

他赌博输光了，身无分文。

Tā dǔbó shūguāng le, shēnwúfēnwén.

He lost everything gambling and was left penniless.

她刚到城市的时候身无分文。

Tā gāng dào chéngshì de shíhou shēnwúfēnwén.

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

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