人穷智短 rén qióng zhì duǎn Poverty limits wisdom

Explanation

形容人贫困时，才智和能力都会受到限制。

Describes the situation where people lose intelligence and ability due to poverty.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个叫李白的诗人，他虽然才华横溢，但一生漂泊，屡遭挫折，生活困苦，晚年更是穷困潦倒。有一次，他流落到一个偏僻的小村庄，村里人听说来了个大诗人，都十分热情地招待他。但李白因为穷困，衣衫褴褛，精神萎靡不振。村长看他这样，叹息着说："人穷智短，才子落魄，也是无奈之举啊！"李白听后，深感无奈，只能借酒消愁。但他并没有放弃对理想的追求，依然坚持创作，留下了许多不朽的诗篇。这个故事，就很好的诠释了人穷智短的含义，贫穷会限制一个人的能力，但却无法磨灭一个人的才华。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, tā suīrán cái huá héng yì, dàn yī shēng piāo bó, lǚ zāo cuò zhé, shēng huó kùn kǔ, wǎn nián gèng shì qióng kùn liáo dǎo. yǒu yī cì, tā liú luò dào yī gè piān pì de xiǎo cūn zhuāng, cūn lǐ rén tīng shuō lái le gè dà shī rén, dōu shí fēn rè qíng de zhāo dài tā. dàn lǐ bái yīnwèi qióng kùn, yī shān lán lǚ, jīng shén wěi mǐ bù zhèn. cūn zhǎng kàn tā zhè yàng, tàn xī zhe shuō: 'rén qióng zhì duǎn, cái zǐ luò pò, yě shì wú nài zhī jǔ a!' lǐ bái tīng hòu, shēn gǎn wú nài, zhǐ néng jiè jiǔ xiāo chóu. dàn tā bìng méi yǒu fàng qì duì lǐ xiǎng de zhuī qiú, yī rán jiān chí chuàng zuò, liú xià le xǔ duō bù xiǔ de shī piān. zhège gù shì, jiù hěn hǎo de qiǎn shì le rén qióng zhì duǎn de hàn yì, pín qióng huì xiàn zhì yī gè rén de néng lì, dàn què wú fǎ mó miè yī gè rén de cái huá.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai, who, although incredibly talented, led a wandering life, suffered setbacks frequently, and lived in poverty. His later years were particularly impoverished. Once, he ended up in a remote village. The villagers, having heard of the great poet's arrival, warmly welcomed him. But Li Bai, due to his poverty, was dressed in rags and listless. The village head sighed, saying, "Poverty dulls the mind; even a talented man is helpless in such circumstances!" Li Bai, deeply affected, drowned his sorrows in alcohol. However, he didn't abandon his dreams and continued to write, leaving behind many immortal poems. This story perfectly illustrates the meaning of "rén qióng zhì duǎn" – poverty can limit one's abilities, but not one's talent.

Usage

多用于形容人贫困时，才智和能力受到限制。

duō yòng yú xíng róng rén pín kùn shí, cái zhì hé néng lì shòu dào xiàn zhì

Often used to describe how poverty limits people's intelligence and abilities.

Examples

• 他家境贫寒，人穷智短，常常为生活发愁。

  tā jiā jìng pín hán, rén qióng zhì duǎn, cháng cháng wèi shēng huó fā chóu

  He is poor and short of wisdom, often worried about life.

• 人穷智短，莫要强求。

  rén qióng zhì duǎn, mò yào qiáng qiú

  Poverty limits one's thinking, so don't force it.

Related Idioms

• 人贫智短

• 穷途末路

Opposite Idioms

• 富可敌国

• 才高八斗