せき
赤
ひん
貧
あら
洗
　
う
　
が
ごと
如
　
し

expression

  1. extremely indigent, extremely poor, in dire poverty, as poor as a church mouse.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
せき
赤
ひん
貧
あら
洗
　
う
　
が
ごと
如
　
し
 赤貧洗うが如し せきひんあらうがごとし
せき
赤
ひん
貧
あら
洗
　
う
　
が
　
ご
　
と
　
し
 赤貧洗うがごとし せきひんあらうがごとし

Contained Kanji Breakdown

red
あか　セキ　あ (1st, N4)
soil, earth, ground
ド　つち　は (1st, N5)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
poverty, poor
ヒン　まず.しい (5th, N3)
part, minute of time, segment
ブン　わ.ける　ブ (2nd)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
sword, saber, knife
かたな　トウ　ち (2nd, N1)
shellfish
かい　バイ (1st, N2)
eye, class, look
め　モク　ボク (1st, N4)
wash, inquire into, probe
あら.う　セン　あらい (6th, N3)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
before, ahead, previous
セン　さき　ま.ず (1st, N5)
cow, (牛 variant)
person, (人 variant)
above
ジョウ　うえ　うわ-
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン　ニン　がい (Kentei 1)
likeness, like, such as
ニョ　ジョ　ごと.し (Late Jr. High, N1)
woman, female
ジョ　おんな　め (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)