Meaning
节俭 describes the quality of being careful with money and resources, avoiding waste and unnecessary expenditure. It carries a positive connotation in Chinese culture, representing a traditional virtue of moderation and careful management of one's resources.
Usage
This term is commonly used to praise someone's careful spending habits or lifestyle. It can describe both personal behavior and institutional policies. Often appears in contexts discussing traditional values, personal finance, or environmental conservation. More formal than colloquial terms like '省钱'.
Examples
- 01我奶奶一生都很节俭，从不浪费粮食。, .My grandmother has been frugal all her life and never wastes food.
- 02节俭是中华民族的传统美德。.Frugality is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation.
Characters
Common collocations
- 生活节俭to live frugally
- 节俭持家to manage household frugally
- 勤俭节约industrious and thrifty
- 提倡节俭to advocate frugality
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to restraint and economy. 节 originally meant 'bamboo joint' and extended to mean 'section' and 'to restrain.' 俭 combines the person radical with a phonetic component, meaning to be sparing or moderate in one's lifestyle.