expression, noun

  1. owning nothing except the clothes on one's back.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
 
着たきり雀 きたきりすずめ
 
 
着た切り雀 きたきりすずめ
 
 
 
 
 
 
着たきりすずめ きたきりすずめ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

don, arrive, wear
チャク つ.く き.る (3rd, N4)
sheep(羊) variant
to divide
king, rule, magnate
オウ -ノウ おお (1st, N3)
eye, class, look
め モク ボク (1st, N4)
sparrow
すずめ ジャク ジャン (Kentei Pre-1)
few, little
すこ.し ショウ すく.ない (2nd, N4)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
bird, old bird radical (no. 172)
サイ スイ とり (Kentei 1)
human radical (no. 9)
lord, chief, master
シュ あるじ ぬし (3rd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
king, rule, magnate
オウ -ノウ おお (1st, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)