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.
給料日前で一文無しだ。
I'm flat broke right before payday.
Colloquial and emphatic, meaning completely empty (of money). Often used in spoken Japanese.
財布がすっからかんだ。
My wallet is completely empty.
Literally 'money shortage', a common casual way to say you're broke.
今月は金欠で外食できない。
I'm broke this month so I can't eat out.
Simple and direct: 'I have no money.' Neutral and widely understood.
ごめん、今お金がないんだ。
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.
家計は火の車だ。
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.
家賃を払ったら一文無しになった。
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.
無一文で旅に出た。
He set off on a journey flat broke.