About

The term is formed through a layered, logical accumulation of negation: it starts with "one" or "the whole" (一), applies "not have" or "lack" (无) to that entirety, and then specifies that what is lacked is "all that is possessed" (所有). The construction moves from the general to the specific, painting a complete picture of absolute absence, first establishing the scope (all), then denying existence within it, and finally clarifying that the denial pertains to everything one could own or hold.

Example Sentences Hide

他现在一无所有

Tā xiànzài yī wú suǒ yǒu.

He has nothing now.

失去工作后,他一无所有

Shīqù gōngzuò hòu, tā yī wú suǒ yǒu.

After losing his job, he has nothing.

尽管他一无所有,但他仍然乐观。

Jǐnguǎn tā yī wú suǒ yǒu, dàn tā réngrán lèguān.

Although he has nothing, he remains optimistic.

在灾难中,他们变得一无所有,不得不重新开始。

Zài zāinàn zhōng, tāmen biàn dé yī wú suǒ yǒu, bùdé bù chóngxīn kāishǐ.

In the disaster, they lost everything and had to start over.

面对一无所有的困境,他选择了坚强和努力。

Miànduì yī wú suǒ yǒu de kùnjìng, tā xuǎnzé le jiānqiáng hé nǔlì.

Facing the predicament of having nothing, he chose strength and effort.

Word Definition - 一无所有

yī wú suǒ yǒu not having anything at all (idiom); utterly lacking; without two sticks to rub together