Translation guide
Describes having absolutely no money, often in a colloquial or emphatic way.
To say you have no money at all, often in casual conversation.
Literally 'not even one mon' (old currency), meaning completely broke. Common and natural.
I'm flat broke right before payday.
Colloquial and emphatic, meaning completely empty (of money). Often used in spoken Japanese.
My wallet is completely empty.
Literally 'money shortage', a common casual way to say you're broke.
I'm broke this month so I can't eat out.
Simple and direct: 'I have no money.' Neutral and widely understood.
Sorry, I'm flat broke right now.
To stress that you are extremely broke, often with a dramatic tone.
Idiom meaning 'in dire financial straits', like a burning cart. Emphatic and vivid.
Our household finances are flat broke.
Old-fashioned but still used for 'penniless' or 'stone broke'. Has a slightly humorous or dramatic feel.
Similar to 一文無し, meaning 'without a penny'. Slightly more formal or literary.
Do not translate 'flat broke' word-for-word. Phrases like 平らに壊れた are nonsensical. Use the idiomatic expressions above.
Both mean completely broke, but すっからかん is more colloquial and can also describe emptiness of containers. 一文無し is a standard idiom for having no money.
After paying rent, I'm flat broke.
彼は素寒貧になって帰ってきた。
He came back flat broke.
He set off on a journey flat broke.