我没有钱
wǒ méiyǒu qián
In Chinese, "I have no money" is said as 我没有钱 (wǒ méiyǒu qián).
The phrase is used to state that a person does not possess any financial funds.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (I), 没有 (do not have) and 钱 (money).
Which one should you use?
While 我没有钱 is a standard statement of fact, adding the particle 了 to the end, as in 我没有钱了, changes the meaning to "I have no money anymore" (implying you had some previously).
How does it change in a sentence?
In colloquial speech, the two-syllable verb 没有 is often shortened to the single syllable 没.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ méiyǒu qián
Did you know?
- If you are joking with friends about being broke, you might use the slang term 吃土 (chī tǔ), which literally means 'to eat dirt'. It implies you have spent so much money that you can no longer afford food.
- In Chinese culture, claiming 我没有钱 can be a polite social tactic to deflect an invitation or avoid the pressure of treating others to a meal.
- The character for money 钱 originally referred to a specific type of round copper coin with a square hole in the center.
Examples in context
- 我没有钱。I have no money.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 我没有钱.Tatoeba #687042 by peipei, translation #433613 by CK
- 不好意思，我没钱了。Sorry, I have no money.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a menu in a restaurant.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这家餐厅太贵了。Zhè jiā cāntīng tài guì le.This restaurant is too expensive.
- 俊杰 Junjie我没有钱，我们去吃面吧。Wǒ méiyǒu qián, wǒmen qù chī miàn ba.I have no money, let's go eat noodles.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，俊杰。Hǎo de, Jùnjié.Okay, Junjie.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，走吧。Xiǎowén, zǒu ba.Xiaowen, let's go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
