家无担石 No grain in the house
Explanation
十斗为一石，两石为一担。形容家里没有存粮。比喻家境困难。
Ten dou make one shi, two shi make one dan. It describes that the family has no food in storage. It is a metaphor for difficult family circumstances.
Origin Story
老张家世代务农，今年收成不好，地里颗粒无收，家中更是家无担石，日子过得捉襟见肘。为了补贴家用，老张不得不四处奔波，做些零工，但他年纪大了，身体也越来越差，常常感到力不从心。他的妻子也跟着四处打工，但收入微薄，难以维持一家人的生活。孩子们年纪尚小，只能眼睁睁地看着父母为生活奔波劳碌，心中充满了担忧。老张夫妇为了孩子们能够好好读书，省吃俭用，即使再苦再难，也从未放弃对孩子的教育。他们相信，只要孩子们有文化，将来就能有出息，改变家里的窘境。
The Zhang family had been farmers for generations. This year, the harvest was poor, the fields yielded nothing, and the Zhang family had no food left, making their lives extremely difficult. To make ends meet, Old Zhang had to work odd jobs, but he was getting older and his health was deteriorating, making him feel powerless. His wife also took on odd jobs, but their income was meager and barely enough to support the family. Their children were still young and could only watch their parents struggle to make a living, feeling worried. To ensure their children could receive a good education, Old Zhang and his wife lived frugally, never giving up on their children's education no matter how hard or difficult life became. They believed that as long as their children received an education, they could have a bright future and change their family's predicament.
Usage
形容家里没有存粮，生活贫困。
Describes that the family has no food in storage and lives in poverty.
Examples
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他家境贫寒，家无担石。
tā jiā jìng pín hán, jiā wú dàn shí
His family is poor, with no food in storage.
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李家家无担石，生活十分艰苦。
lǐ jiā jiā wú dàn shí, shēnghuó shífēn jiānkǔ
The Li family has no food and lives in great hardship.