势单力薄 (shì dān lì bó) — weak and isolated, lacking strength and support

Definition

Examples

• 在这家公司，他势单力薄，很难做出改变。
  Zài zhè jiā gōng sī, tā shì dān lì bó, hěn nán zuò chū gǎi biàn.
  In this company, he is weak and isolated, and it's hard for him to make changes.
• 那个小公司势单力薄，很快就被大企业吞并了。
  Nà ge xiǎo gōng sī shì dān lì bó, hěn kuài jiù bèi dà qǐ yè tūn bìng le.
  That small company was weak and had no support, and was soon swallowed up by a big enterprise.
• 他出身势单力薄的家庭，但靠努力成功了。
  Tā chū shēn shì dān lì bó de jiā tíng, dàn kào nǔ lì chéng gōng le.
  He came from a family with no wealth or backing, but succeeded through hard work.