每天成语
background texture
< 人浮于事此起彼伏 >

所剩无几

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: suǒ shèng wú jǐ
  • English Translation: Very little left (hardly anything remains)
  • Idiom Composition: 「所」（A particle used before a verb to form a noun phrase (meaning 'that which...')）＋「剩」（To remain; to be left over）＋「无」（None; to not have）＋「几」（A few; how many (here meaning 'not many' when combined with 无)）
  • Meaning: An idiom describing a state where the remaining amount of something is extremely small. It is used to depict the depletion of countable items or quantities such as time, money, goods, or people.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「所剩无几」 contains the following nuances:

  • Objective Description: This expression is relatively neutral in tone. It is primarily used to objectively state the fact that the remaining quantity is low, rather than expressing a strong emotional judgment.
  • The Role of 所 (suǒ): In this idiom, 所 (suǒ) acts as a structural particle that turns the verb 剩 (shèng, to remain) into a noun phrase meaning 'that which remains.' This is then followed by 无几 (wú jǐ), meaning 'is not much.'

3. Usage

「所剩无几」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Urgency of Time: Frequently used when a deadline or end time is approaching and the remaining time is nearly exhausted.
    • Example:「离考试结束只剩下五分钟了，时间所剩无几，大家都在奋笔疾书。」
      （With only five minutes left until the exam ends, very little time remains, and everyone is writing furiously.）
  • Depletion of Resources or Money: Used to describe a state where savings, inventory, or food supplies are about to run out.
    • Example:「虽然刚发了工资，但还完信用卡后，手里的钱已经所剩无几了。」
      （Although I just got paid, after paying off my credit card, I have hardly any money left.）
  • Decrease in Numbers: Describes a situation where a once-large group of companions or survivors has dwindled over time.
    • Example:「当年的老战友如今还在世的已所剩无几。」
      （Of the old comrades-in-arms from those days, those who are still alive today are few and far between.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 这场大火之后，森林里的树木所剩无几。
    （After the massive fire, hardly any trees were left in the forest.）
  2. 他对这个项目的热情已经被琐碎的工作消磨得所剩无几。
    （His passion for this project has been worn down by trivial chores until almost nothing remains.）
  3. 冰箱里的食物所剩无几，我们需要去超市采购了。
    （There is very little food left in the refrigerator, so we need to go to the supermarket.）
  4. 经过几轮激烈的淘汰赛，剩下的选手所剩无几。
    （After several rounds of intense eliminations, only a handful of contestants remain.）
  5. 假期的余额已经所剩无几，明天就要开始上班了。
    （The remaining balance of the holiday is almost gone; work starts tomorrow.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • While this idiom appears in Qing Dynasty literature such as the novel Flowers in the Mirror (镜花缘) and Officialdom Unmasked (官场现形记), it is not strictly a 'historical anecdote' idiom (gushi chengyu). Instead, it is a literal descriptive idiom that has remained highly relevant.
  • In modern usage, it is extremely versatile and appears in everything from daily conversation to news reports. It is particularly common in contexts involving 'time' or 'money,' often accompanied by a sense of anxiety or lamentation regarding depletion.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

所剩无几 (suǒ shèng wú jǐ) describes a situation where something that was originally present has decreased until almost nothing is left. It can be applied to anything that can be 'used up,' such as time, money, resources, or the number of people in a group. It is a useful expression for conveying a sense of urgency or the factual reality that 'there is almost none left.'

'造句' Feature Usage Guide

造句练习📝

Try creating sentences using '所剩无几'!

0/50