Meaning
吝啬 describes someone who is extremely unwilling to spend money or share resources, even when they have plenty. It carries a negative connotation and suggests excessive frugality to the point of being ungenerous or petty.
Usage
This word is primarily used to criticize someone's unwillingness to spend money or be generous. It's stronger and more negative than simply saying someone is frugal (节俭). Often appears in the pattern 对...很吝啬 (stingy toward...) or used to describe someone's character directly. Common in both spoken and written Chinese when expressing disapproval of someone's cheapness.
Examples
- 01他对自己很吝啬，连一件新衣服都不舍得买。, .He's very stingy with himself and won't even buy a new piece of clothing.
- 02别那么吝啬，朋友过生日应该大方一点。, .Don't be so stingy; you should be more generous when it's your friend's birthday.
Characters
Common collocations
- 吝啬鬼miser, cheapskate
- 对...很吝啬...very stingy toward...
- 吝啬的人stingy person
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to stinginess in classical Chinese. 吝 originally meant to be reluctant or grudging, while 啬 meant to be frugal to excess. Together they form a compound emphasizing extreme unwillingness to part with resources.