📖 Meaning
To have nothing of value beyond one's own person. It describes someone who is extremely poor, possessing no extra possessions or luxuries. The phrase conveys a state of material destitution.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from 'A New Account of the Tales of the World' (世说新语) by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasties (Liu Song period). In the chapter on Virtue (德行), it records a story about Wang Gong, a man known for his integrity and simple lifestyle. When asked about his circumstances, the reply was that 'the gentleman does not know Gong well; Gong lives without surplus possessions.' The story illustrates Wang Gong's honesty and refusal to accumulate wealth, embodying the virtue of contentment with little.
💡 Example Usage
他一生清廉，身无长物，只留下几箱旧书。
He lived an honest life with nothing to his name, leaving behind only a few boxes of old books.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 身无长物
- Pinyin: shēn wú cháng wù
- Literal Translation: body, no, surplus, things
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4