倾家荡产

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qīng jiā dàng chǎn
• English Translation: To lose one's family fortune, to go bankrupt, to be ruined
• Idiom Composition: 「倾」（To exhaust, to empty）＋「家」（Family, household）＋「荡」（To squander, to lose）＋「产」（Property, assets）
• Meaning: To lose all one's family property and have nothing left. It is often used to emphasize a catastrophic situation or a tragic outcome.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「倾家荡产」 contains the following nuances:

• Complete loss of property: It means not just a loss, but the complete loss of all one's possessions.
• Catastrophic situation: Often caused by catastrophic events such as disasters, wars, gambling, or investment failures.
• Tragic outcome: Implies not only the loss of property but also tragic consequences such as the downfall of social status and impoverishment.
• Strong warning: Can also be used as a strong warning against reckless or dangerous behavior.

3. Usage

「倾家荡产」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing bankruptcy or loss of property: Used to describe situations where individuals or businesses have lost all their assets.
  • Example:「由于投资失败，他几乎倾家荡产，生活陷入困境。」
    （Due to failed investments, he was almost ruined, and his life fell into hardship.）
• Result of tragic events: Describes the loss of property due to major calamities such as wars or disasters.
  • Example:「那场大火不仅烧毁了他的家园，还让他倾家荡产。」
    （That great fire not only burned down his home but also left him destitute.）
• Warning against reckless behavior: Used to warn about the risk of losing property as a result of dangerous behaviors such as gambling or reckless investments.
  • Example:「他因为赌博成性，最终导致倾家荡产，妻离子散。」
    （His gambling addiction ultimately led to his ruin, and his family was scattered.）

Additional Examples:

1. 战争使得许多家庭倾家荡产，流离失所。
   （War caused many families to lose everything and become displaced.）
2. 由于公司经营不善，他不得不面对倾家荡产的现实。
   （Due to poor company management, he had to face the reality of bankruptcy.）
3. 他沉迷于股市，最终倾家荡产，负债累累。
   （He became addicted to the stock market, eventually losing all his wealth and accumulating heavy debts.）
4. 这场金融危机让许多人倾家荡产，生活陷入绝境。
   （This financial crisis caused many people to lose everything and fall into despair.）
5. 他为了追求一夜暴富，不惜冒险投资，结果倾家荡产。
   （He risked investing for quick riches, but ended up losing all his property.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Importance of wealth and family: In traditional Chinese culture, wealth and family have been highly valued as the foundation of an individual's social status and livelihood. '倾家荡产' is viewed not merely as the loss of property, but as a tragedy accompanied by severe consequences such as the downfall of social status, the collapse of one's life, and the dispersion of family.
• Usage as a lesson: This idiom is often used as a strong warning against reckless or dangerous behavior, carrying a didactic meaning that encourages people to act cautiously.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 家破人亡 (jiā pò rén wáng): Family broken up and people dead; family ruined and members scattered.
  • 一无所有 (yì wú suǒ yǒu): To have nothing at all, penniless.
  • 一贫如洗 (yì pín rú xǐ): Extremely poor, destitute.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 富甲一方 (fù jiǎ yì fāng): To be the richest person in a certain area.
  • 财源滚滚 (cái yuán gǔn gǔn): Wealth flowing in continuously.
  • 家财万贯 (jiā cái wàn guàn): To possess immense wealth.

6. Summary

'倾家荡产' is an idiom with a very heavy meaning, implying not only the loss of property but also the accompanying social and psychological blows. When using this term, it is crucial to fully understand its severity and tragic nature and to use it in an appropriate context. Furthermore, this idiom reflects the importance of wealth and family in Chinese culture and is also used as a strong warning against reckless behavior. Learning this idiom will not only enhance your Chinese expressive power but also deepen your understanding of Chinese culture.