having not a single copper(bù míng yī wén)

having not a single copper

It's a Chinese idiom. Pinyin is B ù m í ngy ī w é n, which means to describe extreme poverty with no money. From Li Zicheng.

The origin of Idioms

Yao xueyin's Li Zicheng, Volume 2, Chapter 16: "brother, I understand that my half life's calligraphy and sword are wandering, I'm living in the world, and I'm not a penny in my pocket."

Idiom usage

How can he get it? He can only borrow money from his relatives and friends. (the first time of Huang Xiaopei's damabian in Qing Dynasty) he was in a difficult life and was penniless.

Chinese PinYin : bù míng yī wén