- 贫贱不能移 pínjiànbùnéngyí unshaken by povertyto remain true to one's principles and ambitions despite being poor and of low status; often used to describe a person of high integrity
- 贫贱之交 pínjiànzhījiāo friends from one's humble daysfriends who formed their bond when they were poor and have stayed together through hard times
- 贫贱之交不可忘 pínjiànzhījiāobùkěwàng one should not forget friends from poor timesA friend made during times of poverty and hardship should never be forgotten; usually paired with [[糟糠之妻不下堂|糟糠之妻不下堂|zao1 kang1 zhi1 qi1 bu4 xia4 tang2]] to emphasize not abandoning those who shared one's struggles
- 贫贱交 pínjiànjiāo friend from hard timesa friend made during a period of poverty or low status; a friendship forged in dark days
- 贫贱骄人 pínjiànjiāorén proudly poorRefers to a person who, despite being poor and of low status, remains proud of their moral integrity and does not flatter the rich or powerful; later used to express contempt for the wealthy
