徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)

としゅくうけん
noun
bare-handed; with nothing; from scratch
formalwrittenidiom
1. bare-handed; empty-handed; with nothing; from scratch
Literally, having no weapons or tools — fighting with bare fists. Figuratively, starting from nothing with no resources, connections, or advantages. Often used admiringly to describe someone who built something through sheer effort.
徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)で会社(かいしゃ)を興(おこ)した。
He started a company from scratch with nothing.
徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)の状態(じょうたい)から成功(せいこう)をつかんだ。
He seized success starting from nothing.
資金(しきん)もコネも無(な)い徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)の若者(わかもの)が一代(いちだい)で財(ざい)を成(な)した。
A young person with no money or connections built a fortune from nothing in a single generation.

A 四字熟語(よじじゅくご): 徒手(としゅ) (bare hands) + 空拳(くうけん) (empty fists). The literal sense, fighting without weapons, is rare today; the word mostly describes someone who achieved something with no money, connections or backing, usually with admiration.

Common patterns

  • 徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)で〜する: to do ~ with nothing to start with
  • 徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)の〜: a ~ with no resources
  • 徒手空拳(としゅくうけん)から始(はじ)める: to start from nothing
general
Added 2026.3.21 18:58 · Revised 2026.10.7 22:41
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