囊中羞涩 - Chinese Idiom

Collocation

1

一种囊中羞涩的感觉

2

囊中羞涩的人

3

一到月底就会囊中羞涩

4

学生囊中羞涩

Definition

囊中羞涩

Literally means:

feel abashed of one's empty pocket

Actually means:

be short of money

囊, the pocket.

This phrase means feeling abashed that there is little money in one's pocket. It is usually used to describe one's financial difficulty in a round about way.

囊，口袋。

囊中羞涩，口袋里没有钱，感到难为情。多指经济不宽裕。是委婉的说法。

Example

Used as predicate or attributive. (作谓语、定语)

1

Xuésheng

学生

nángzhōngxiūsè

囊中羞涩

,

mǎi

买

bu

不

qǐ

起

jiàqian

价钱

hěn

很

guì

贵

de

的

shū

书

,

jiù

就

zhǐnéng

只能

jīngcháng

经常

qù

去

shūdiàn

书店

duō

多

kànkan

看看

。

Students shy, can not afford to buy very expensive books, can only often go to the bookstore to see more.

2

Tā

他

yòng

用

qian

钱

méiyǒu

没有

jìhuà

计划

,

yī

一

dào

到

yuèdǐ

月底

jiù

就

huì

会

nángzhōngxiūsè

囊中羞涩

,

bù

不

gǎn

敢

shàng

上

fànguǎn

饭馆

huò

或

qù

去

yúlè

娱乐

chǎngsuǒ

场所

。

He has no plans with his money, and at the end of the month he will be too shy to go to restaurants or entertainment venues.

3

Bǐjìběn

笔记本

diànnǎo

电脑

suīrán

虽然

yīzài

一再

jiàngjià

降价

,

dànshì

但是

nángzhōngxiūsè

囊中羞涩

de

的

rén

人

háishi

还是

mǎibuqǐ

买不起

。

Laptops have been repeatedly cut in price, but shy people still can't afford them.