📖 Meaning
Literally 'not a single thread on one's body,' this idiom is most commonly used to describe someone who is completely naked, without any clothing. Originally a Buddhist term, it referred to a state free from all worldly attachments and desires, symbolizing spiritual purity and detachment.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Buddhist scripture, specifically found in translations of Mahayana texts such as the Vimalakirti Sutra and various commentaries. In its original Buddhist context, it described a practitioner who had severed all ties to worldly affairs — not even a single thread of attachment remained. The metaphor of having 'not a thread' expressed complete spiritual liberation, where clinging to material things was entirely absent. Over time, the literal interpretation — having no cloth on the body — became the dominant colloquial usage.
💡 Example Usage
那个小孩在河里游泳时一丝不挂，把岸上的游客都逗笑了。
The little boy was swimming stark naked in the river, amusing all the tourists on the bank.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 一丝不挂
- Pinyin: yī sī bù guà
- Literal Translation: one, thread, not, hang
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4