一穷二白
yī qióng èr bái
poor and backward; starting from almost nothing
Character by character
一yī
one
one
穷qióng
poor
poor
二èr
two
two
白bái
blank
blank
Example
新中国成立之初一穷二白，连汽车都造不出来。
In its early years New China had next to nothing; it could not even build a car.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Mao’s 1950s description of the country: 穷 meant economically poor, 白 meant blank in science and culture. Now used of any country, firm or family starting from scratch.
Learn this in Lesson 83 · HSK 6–7: 新中国的头三十年 (New China’s first thirty years, 1949–1978)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →