Definition

Adjective: - Mean, stingy, miserly: Describes a person who is excessively unwilling to spend money or use resources, even on necessary or very small things. It implies a level of stinginess that is considered contemptible or excessive.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông chủ đó rất bủn xỉn, không bao giờ tăng lương cho nhân viên. (That boss is very stingy; he never gives his employees a raise.)
  • Đừng có bủn xỉn, mua cho con một cây kem đi. (Don't be so mean; buy the child an ice cream.)
  • Tính bủn xỉn của anh ta khiến mọi người xa lánh. (His miserly nature makes people avoid him.)

Advanced Usage

• "bủn xỉn với...": to be stingy with something.
  • Anh ta bủn xỉn với cả thời gian của mình. (He is stingy even with his own time.)
• "bủn xỉn từng...": to be stingy down to every single [small unit].
  • Bà ấy bủn xỉn từng hạt gạo. (She is stingy down to every grain of rice.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hà tiện (adj): Stingy, parsimonious. (Often used interchangeably, but can carry a stronger, more negative connotation of pettiness).
• Keo kiệt (adj): Miserly, tight-fisted. (Similar meaning, focusing on hoarding wealth).
• Kẹt xỉ (adj, colloquial): Very stingy, cheap. (A more informal and slightly stronger synonym).

Synonyms

• Stingy: Unwilling to give or spend.
• Miserly: Like a miser; hoarding wealth and living poorly.
• Tight-fisted: Not willing to spend or give money.
• Parsimonious: Excessively sparing or frugal.
• Niggardly (formal): Grudgingly mean about spending or granting.

Related Idioms

• "Đồ bủn xỉn!": "You miser!" (A common insult).
• "Bủn xỉn như mắm đổ muối": (Idiom) As stingy as pouring salt into fish sauce (i.e., excessively and unnecessarily stingy).

adj

1. Mean, stingy
   • bủn xỉn tính toán từng xu với bạn bè
     stingy, he stints his friends every penny