穷困潦倒 impoverished and destitute
Explanation
形容生活贫困，失意颓丧。
Describes a life of poverty and despair.
Origin Story
寒冬腊月，鹅毛大雪纷纷扬扬地下个不停。老张年过半旬，曾经也是个意气风发的年轻人，年轻的时候，他经商很有头脑，积累了不少财富。然而，一场突如其来的变故，让他倾家荡产，几近一无所有。如今的他，只能蜷缩在破旧的小屋里，靠着捡拾破烂为生，日子过得异常艰难。他曾经的辉煌早已成为过去，如今的他，穷困潦倒，形容枯槁，头发花白，眼神黯淡，昔日的风采早已荡然无存。凛冽的寒风呼啸着穿过破败的屋子，他瑟瑟发抖，心中充满了无奈和悲凉。他回忆起曾经的荣华富贵，不禁泪流满面。曾经的辉煌，如今只剩下无尽的辛酸和无奈。
In the cold winter, snowflakes fell continuously. Old Zhang, over fifty years old, was once a spirited young man. When he was young, he was a shrewd businessman and accumulated considerable wealth. However, a sudden change of fortune left him penniless and almost destitute. Now he could only huddle in a dilapidated hut and make a living by picking up scraps. His past glory has long become a thing of the past. Now he is impoverished, withered, with white hair and dull eyes. His former brilliance has long since disappeared. The biting wind howled through the dilapidated house, making him shiver with cold and filled with helplessness and sadness. Remembering his former glory, he couldn't help but shed tears. What was once brilliant now only leaves endless bitterness and helplessness.
Usage
用于描写生活贫困，精神颓丧的状态。
Used to describe a state of poverty and despair.
Examples
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他落魄之时，曾一度穷困潦倒。
ta luopo zhishi, ceng yidu qiongkun liaodao
He was once impoverished and down-on-his-luck when he was in his worst times.
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他穷困潦倒，不得不靠朋友接济。
ta qiongkun liaodao, buda bu kao pengyou jiej
He was impoverished and destitute, and had to rely on friends for help.