jat1 mou4 so2 jau5一無所有一无所有

Jyutpingjat1 mou4 so2 jau5

Yaleyāt mòuh só yáuh

語句

Definition

To possess absolutely nothing; to have nothing at all.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a heavy, dramatic weight often reserved for describing total bankruptcy or the aftermath of a major life catastrophe. While it is technically a four-character idiom, it is frequently used in casual speech to emphasize a state of complete destitution. It sounds much more final and serious than simply saying 乜都冇.

Examples

keoi5佢syu1輸saai3晒di1啲cin2錢，ji4而gaa1家zan1真hai6係jat1一mou4無so2所jau5有。

He lost all his money and now he really has nothing.

nei5你ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己jat1一mou4無so2所jau5有，kei4其sat6實zung6仲jau5有uk1屋kei2企jan4人zi1支ci4持。

You think you have nothing, but actually you still have family support.

Common phrases

bin3變dak1得jat1一mou4無so2所jau5有

to become destitute

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to mean simply having a small amount of something, but it implies a total loss of everything one previously possessed. It is not appropriate for describing a lack of a specific item, such as not having a pen or not having a phone.