家贫如洗 jiā pín rú xǐ

DEFINITIONS

  1. extreme poverty (idiom); destitute
  2. penniless
  3. poor as church mice

CHARACTERS

家 jiā house, home, residence; family
贫 pín poor, impoverished, needy
如 rú if, supposing; as if; like, as
洗 xǐ wash, rinse; clean, purify