Someone who is penniless has no money — not a little short, but none to speak of. The picture in the word is “without even a penny,” though of course it means without money in general, notes included.

Someone who is penniless一個penniless的人 has no money身上完全沒有錢 not a little short不是差一點點 but none to speak of而是幾乎什麼都沒有 The picture in the word is這個字給人的畫面是 “without even a penny,”「連一分錢都沒有」 though of course it means without money in general不過當然是泛指沒有錢 notes included連紙鈔也算在內

It is still used, but it sounds a bit like a story or a news headline: a penniless student, left penniless after the fire. In everyday talk, broke is more common and more casual; poor is broader and can last for years, while penniless often points to a sharp empty moment.

It is still used這個字現在還在用 but it sounds a bit like a story or a news headline但聽起來有點像故事或新聞標題 a penniless student, left penniless after the fire像penniless student（身無分文的學生）、left penniless after the fire（火災後一無所有） In everyday talk日常說話裡 broke is more common and more casualbroke比較常見也比較口語 poor is broader and can last for yearspoor範圍比較廣，可能持續好幾年 while penniless often points to a sharp empty momentpenniless則常常指一個突然、身無分文的時刻

You can be penniless and still have friends, a bag, a place to sleep — the word is about money, not about having nothing at all in life. It is not rude, but it is blunt, so people sometimes soften it (almost penniless, nearly penniless).

You can be penniless and still have friends, a bag, a place to sleep你可以身無分文，但還是有朋友、有包包、有地方睡覺 the word is about money這個字講的是錢 not about having nothing at all in life不是說人生什麼都沒有 It is not rude這個字不算沒禮貌 but it is blunt但講起來很直接 so people sometimes soften it所以大家有時候會講得婉轉一點 (almost penniless, nearly penniless)（像almost penniless、nearly penniless，「幾乎身無分文」）