trắng tay

Vietnamese

Etymology

trắng (“white”) +‎ tay (“hand”). Calque of Chinese 白手 (báishǒu).

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaŋ˧˦ taj˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ʈaŋ˦˧˥ taj˧˧]
(Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʈaŋ˦˥ taj˧˧]

Adjective

trắng tay

empty-handed

Usage notes

The term can simply refer to the state of having nothing to give, of getting nothing, but it can also imply an ultimate loss of fortune that the subject suffers.

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