家破人亡

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiā pò rén wáng
• English Translation: Family ruined and members dead or scattered
• Idiom Composition: 「家」（Home, family, or household property.）＋「破」（Broken, ruined, or bankrupted.）＋「人」（People, specifically referring to the family members.）＋「亡」（Dead, perished, or fled and lost.）
• Meaning: A state where a family is completely destroyed, with its property lost and its members either dead or dispersed. It describes the ultimate tragedy caused by war, natural disasters, or destructive vices.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「家破人亡」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme Tragedy: This idiom does not just imply poverty or conflict; it signifies a catastrophic blow where lives are lost and the physical home is destroyed.
• Severity of Causes: It is typically associated with uncontrollable forces like war and natural disasters, or self-inflicted ruin through addictions like gambling or drug abuse.

3. Usage

「家破人亡」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• War or Natural Disasters: Used to emphasize the tragic situation of victims when describing the cruelty of war or the terror of natural disasters.
  • Example:「那场残酷的战争导致无数百姓家破人亡，流离失所。」
    （That cruel war caused countless civilians to be ruined and scattered, leaving them homeless and displaced.）
• Warning Against Vices: Frequently used as a cautionary tale regarding the worst possible outcomes of gambling, drug use, or reckless investment.
  • Example:「沉迷赌博最终只会让人落得个家破人亡的下场。」
    （Indulging in gambling will only lead to a person's total family ruin in the end.）

Additional Examples:

1. 为了不再重演家破人亡的历史悲剧，我们必须珍惜和平。
   （To prevent the historical tragedy of families being torn apart and destroyed from happening again, we must cherish peace.）
2. 他因吸毒耗尽家产，最后弄得家破人亡。
   （He exhausted the family fortune on drugs, eventually leading to the death of his family and the loss of his home.）
3. 洪水过后，许多村民面临着家破人亡的困境。
   （After the flood, many villagers faced the dire situation of having their homes destroyed and their loved ones perish.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase appears in historical texts such as the Book of Jin (晋书) in the biography of Wen Qiao (温峤). While it occasionally appears in Zen Buddhist texts like the Records of the Transmission of the Lamp (景德传灯录) to metaphorically describe shedding worldly attachments, in modern usage, it is exclusively a negative term for devastating misfortune.
• In Chinese culture, the 'Family' (家 - jiā) is the fundamental pillar of society. Therefore, 家破人亡 (jiā pò rén wáng) represents the most profound level of personal and social failure or tragedy possible.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 妻离子散 (qī lí zǐ sàn): Wife gone and children scattered; describes a family being broken apart.
  • 流离失所 (liú lí shī suǒ): To become homeless and wander about due to disaster or war.
  • 倾家荡产 (qīng jiā dàng chǎn): To lose one's entire fortune and property.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 安居乐业 (ān jū lè yè): To live in peace and work happily; a stable and prosperous life.
  • 人丁兴旺 (rén dīng xīng wàng): A flourishing family with many members and descendants.
  • 成家立业 (chéng jiā lì yè): To get married and start a career.link
  • 欢聚一堂 (huān jù yī táng): To gather joyfully in one hall.link

6. Summary

家破人亡 (jiā pò rén wáng) is a powerful idiom used to describe the total collapse of a household. It signifies a level of tragedy beyond mere poverty, where the family unit is physically and socially obliterated. It is often used as a stern warning against destructive behaviors like gambling or as a poignant description of the horrors of war.