人穷志短

人穷志短

Literally means:

poverty gives rise to ignoble thoughts

Actually means:

poverty stifles ambition

穷 means poor life or difficult situation; 志 means ambition or aspiration; 短 means lacking.

This phrase means when a person is caught in a difficult situation, he is likely to become less ambitious, confident or enthusiastic. Derogatory.

穷，生活贫苦，处境困难。志，志向，理想。短，短小。

人的处境困难，志向、信心劲头也就小了。具有贬义色彩。