一穷二白 poor and backward
Explanation
这个成语的意思是指物质基础差，文化和科学落后，比喻基础差，底子薄。它通常用来形容国家或个人在发展初期所处的状态。
The idiom means that the material foundation is weak and the culture and science are backward. It is used to describe the state of a country or individual in the early stages of development.
Origin Story
在一个遥远的小村庄里，住着一位名叫李老头的农民。他一生勤劳朴素，却一直过着贫困的生活。他的家徒四壁，只有一张破床和几件简单的家具。李老头每天辛辛苦苦地在地里干活，却总是收成甚微。他常常感叹自己的命运，觉得生活太过于艰辛。有一天，李老头在田里劳作时，突然听到有人在喊他的名字。他抬头一看，发现是一位衣着华贵、气宇轩昂的老人。老人告诉李老头，他来自天庭，是来帮助李老头改变命运的。老人拿出一个神奇的宝盒，打开后，里面闪耀着金光，瞬间照亮了整个田野。老人说：“这宝盒里装着无穷的财富和知识，只要你拥有它，就能改变你一穷二白的生活。”李老头顿时激动不已，连忙跪下向老人道谢。老人笑着说：“不用谢我，这是你应得的。不过，你要记住，宝盒里的财富和知识需要你自己去努力才能获得。”李老头深以为然，他带着宝盒回到家中，仔细研究里面的宝物。他发现宝盒里藏着许多奇珍异宝，还有许多古籍和书籍。李老头决心好好学习这些知识，并努力工作，希望能改变自己贫困的生活。他每天都刻苦学习，不断地学习新的知识和技能。几年后，李老头通过自己的努力，终于摆脱了一穷二白的生活，成为村里有名的富翁。他再也不用为生活发愁，而是过上了富裕安康的生活。李老头的故事告诉我们，即使出身贫寒，只要肯努力，就能改变命运，创造幸福的生活。
In a distant village, lived a poor farmer named Li. He had been working hard and modestly all his life, but he always lived in poverty. His house was bare, with only a broken bed and a few simple pieces of furniture. Li worked hard in the field every day, but his harvest was always meager. He often sighed about his fate, feeling that life was too hard. One day, while Li was working in the field, he suddenly heard someone calling his name. He looked up and saw an old man in elegant clothes, with an imposing appearance. The old man told Li that he came from heaven and was there to help Li change his fate. The old man took out a magical box, and when he opened it, golden light shone out, instantly illuminating the entire field. The old man said: “This box contains endless wealth and knowledge. If you have it, you can change your poor and primitive life.” Li was immediately excited and knelt down to thank the old man. The old man smiled and said: “Don't thank me, this is what you deserve. But remember, the wealth and knowledge in the box need your own efforts to obtain.” Li deeply agreed with this. He took the box home and carefully examined the treasures inside. He found that the box contained many rare treasures, as well as many ancient books and scrolls. Li was determined to study these knowledge, work hard, and hopefully change his poor life. He studied hard every day, constantly learning new knowledge and skills. After a few years, through his own efforts, Li finally escaped the poverty of his life and became a well-known wealthy man in the village. He no longer had to worry about life and lived a prosperous and healthy life. Li's story tells us that even if we come from a poor background, as long as we are willing to work hard, we can change our fate and create a happy life.
Usage
这个成语一般用来形容国家或个人在发展初期基础差、底子薄的状况。例如，我们可以说“中国曾经是一穷二白的国家，现在已经发展成为世界上第二大经济体。”
This idiom is generally used to describe the situation of a country or individual in the early stages of development, where they have a poor foundation and a low level of knowledge. For example, we can say “China was once a poor and backward country, but now it has become the world's second-largest economy.”
Examples
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新中国成立之初，百废待兴，国家是一穷二白。
xīn zhōng guó chéng lì zhī chū, bǎi fèi dài xīng, guó jiā shì yī qióng èr bái.
At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a lot to be done, and the country was very poor and backward.
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我们国家从一穷二白发展到现在，取得了举世瞩目的成就。
wǒ men guó jiā cóng yī qióng èr bái fā zhǎn dào xiàn zài, qǔ dé le jǔ shì zhǔ mù de chéng jiù.
Our country has made remarkable progress from being poor and backward to where it is today.
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他虽然出身贫寒，但通过自己的努力，最终摆脱了一穷二白的生活。
tā suī rán chū shēn pín hán, dàn tōng guò zì jǐ de nǔ lì, zuì zhōng bǎi tuō le yī qióng èr bái de shēng huó.
Although he came from a poor family, he eventually escaped a poor and backward life through his own efforts.
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在学习上，我们也要努力，不能一穷二白，要不断充实自己。
zài xué xí shàng, wǒ men yě yào nǔ lì, bù néng yī qióng èr bái, yào bù duàn chōng shí zì jǐ.
In our studies, we must also strive not to be backward, but to constantly enrich ourselves.
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作为发展中国家，我们仍面临着一些困难，但我们有信心，最终会战胜一切困难，实现中华民族伟大复兴。
zuò wéi fā zhǎn zhōng guó jiā, wǒ men réng miàn lín zhe yī xiē kùn nan, dàn wǒ men yǒu xìn xīn, zuì zhōng huì zhàn shèng yī qiè kùn nan, shí xiàn zhōng huá mín zú wěi dà fù xīng.
As a developing country, we still face some difficulties, but we are confident that we will eventually overcome all difficulties and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.