四壁 (sì bì) — the four walls (of a room); often used in literary expressions or idioms to evoke emptiness or poverty
Definition
Literary word for 'the four walls' of a room, almost always used in set phrases like 家徒四壁 to evoke emptiness or poverty. Don't use it for ordinary talk about a room's walls.
noun
the four walls (of a room)often used in literary expressions or idioms to evoke emptiness or poverty
Examples
- 四壁。Zhè ge fáng jiān de sì bì shuā chéng le bái sè.The four walls of this room are painted white.
- 四壁，。Tā jiā tú sì bì, shén me dōu méi yǒu.His family has nothing but four walls — they are extremely poor.
- 四壁。Zhǎn lǎn tīng de sì bì guà mǎn le huà.The four walls of the exhibition hall are hung with paintings.
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