甑尘釜鱼 — “Describes extreme poverty”

甑尘釜鱼 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes extreme poverty”. Where a family has gone without food for so long that dust has accumulated in the steamer and fish-like creatures have bred in the pot due to disuse. It can also metaphorically refer to an official who is incorruptible and lives a simple, austere life. Literally, “Dust in the steamer, fish in the pot”.

Frequency

甑尘釜鱼 Pronunciation and Pinyin

甑尘釜鱼 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
甑	zèng	16	ancient rice steamer
尘	chén	6	dust, mortal world
釜	fǔ	10	ancient cooking pot
鱼	yú	8	aquatic vertebrate with gills and fins

Example Sentence with 甑尘釜鱼

他们家境贫寒，常常甑尘釜鱼，日子过得十分艰难。

Their family was in dire poverty, frequently facing 'dust in the steamer and fish in the pot,' meaning they often went without food, and their lives were extremely difficult.

Origin and Story of 甑尘釜鱼

During the Han Dynasty, Fan Ran was persecuted and banned from holding office by the eunuch faction. He had no choice but to resign from his post and wander with his wife, pushing a deer-cart.

Often, when they had no money for an inn, they would rest under the shade of trees. After more than ten years, he finally built a simple thatched cottage.

They frequently ran out of food and survived by eating wild vegetables. His fellow villagers, witnessing his impoverished state, mocked him by saying, 'Fan Shiyun has dust in his steamer, Fan Laiwu has fish in his pot,' referring to the long periods when their cooking utensils lay unused due to lack of food.