with nothing but one's body; just oneself (without belongings)
Describes a state of having no possessions, money, or support, relying only on oneself. Often used in the phrase 身一つで.
He came to Tokyo with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Moving to a new place with just oneself and no belongings is tough.
Compound of 身 (body, oneself) and 一つ (one). The phrase 身一つで literally means 'with one's body alone', emphasizing a state of having nothing else.