bỉ lận
Definitions
- Adjective:
- Stingy, miserly: Describes a person who is extremely unwilling to spend money or use resources, often to an excessive and contemptible degree. This term carries a strong negative connotation of meanness and pettiness.
- Sordid, mean-spirited: Can also imply a broader sense of baseness or contemptible behavior in character, not limited to financial matters.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ông chủ đó nổi tiếng là một người bỉ lận. (That boss is famous for being a stingy miser.)
- Thái độ bỉ lận của hắn khiến không ai muốn kết giao. (His mean-spirited attitude makes no one want to associate with him.)
- Đừng có bỉ lận với chính người thân của mình. (Don't be so stingy with your own family.)
Advanced Usage Notes
- Tone and Register: "Bỉ lận" is a literary and somewhat archaic term. It is stronger and more formal than common synonyms like "keo kiệt" or "hà tiện". It expresses strong disapproval and contempt.
- Context: It is typically used to describe a person's character trait, often in a critical or judgmental context. It is less commonly used for single actions.
Variants and Related Words
- Bần tiện (adj): Base, vile, contemptible. Shares the connotation of low moral character but is broader than just financial stinginess.
- Keo kiệt (adj): Stingy, miserly. A more common, everyday synonym.
- Hà tiện (adj): Parsimonious, frugal to a fault. Slightly less harsh than "bỉ lận".
Synonyms
- Avare (French loanword, adj): Miserly.
- Sordide (French loanword, adj): Sordid, miserly.
- Keo cú (adj, colloquial): Tight-fisted, stingy.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Bỉ lận xỉn mạt: A reinforced phrase emphasizing extreme and contemptible stinginess.
- Kẻ bỉ lận xỉn mạt ấy chẳng bao giờ bỏ ra một đồng. (That utterly miserly person never spends a dime.)
- Tính bỉ lận: A miserly/mean character.
- Tính bỉ lận của anh ta ai cũng biết. (Everyone knows about his miserly character.)