noun
shabby clothes and plain food; living a simple life
A yojijukugo describing a frugal, unpretentious lifestyle, often with a positive connotation of rejecting materialism. Used in literary or formal contexts.
彼は悪衣悪食を恥じない。
He is not ashamed of his shabby clothes and plain food.
悪衣悪食の生活を送る。
Lead a life of simple clothing and food.
清貧 means 'honorable poverty' and carries a stronger moral or spiritual nuance, whereas 悪衣悪食 focuses on the outward simplicity of clothing and diet.
A yojijukugo of Chinese origin, combining 悪 (bad/coarse), 衣 (clothing), 悪 (bad/coarse), and 食 (food). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it reflects a classical ideal of simple living.