一穷二白

一穷二白:

Literally means:

poor and blank; underdeveloped

Actually means:

穷, poor in productivity; 白, poor in technology.

This phrase literally means being both poor and blank. It means having a poor economic foundation and a thin technological base. It also refers to poor material conditions. It particularly refers to the conditions when China was backward in economic development.

穷，指生产不发达。白，指科学水平底。

一穷二白，第一是穷，第二是白。

形容经济基础差，科技底子薄。也指物质条件差。特指从前中国经济不发达的情况。