Definition

Verb: - To save money carefully and frugally: To set aside money bit by bit through thrifty habits and mindful spending, often for a specific future purpose. It implies a conscious, sustained effort of economizing.

Usage

This verb describes the action of accumulating savings through consistent, careful financial management. It is often used when discussing personal finance, household budgeting, or planning for future expenses. - Common Collocations: dè dụm tiền (to save money), dè dụm từng đồng (to save every single penny), dè dụm cho tương lai (to save for the future).

Examples

• (She saved carefully her whole life to buy this house.)
• (We have to save money carefully to provide for our children's education.)
• (He saves meticulously every small amount of money.)

Advanced Usage

• Implied Meaning of Sacrifice: The word often carries a connotation of sacrifice, patience, and living modestly to achieve a financial goal. It is not merely saving what is left over, but actively choosing to spend less.
  • Cả gia đình dè dụm suốt mấy năm trời mới đủ tiền sửa nhà. (The whole family practiced careful saving for several years to have enough money to renovate the house.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dè sẻn (adj/verb): Stingy, miserly; to be overly frugal. This has a more negative connotation than .
• Để dành (verb): To put aside, to save. This is a more general and neutral term for saving.
• Tiết kiệm (verb/noun): To save, to economize; savings/economy. This is the standard, neutral term for saving money or resources.

Synonyms

• Để dành tiền: To put aside money.
• Tiết kiệm tiền: To save money (economize).

Notes on Meaning

• Nuance: While is a broad term for saving/economizing, emphasizes the of saving: it is done cautiously, frugally, and often with difficulty. It paints a picture of diligent, long-term effort.
• Scope: Primarily used for money, but can be extended metaphorically to other resources like time or effort, though this is less common.
  • Phải dè dụm từng phút để kịp giờ. (We have to be sparing with every minute to be on time.)

1. Save (economize) money