Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sensibly thrifty; moderately frugal: "Kiệm ước" describes the quality of being economical and saving resources, but in a reasonable and measured way, avoiding both wastefulness and excessive stinginess.
   • Practicing moderate economy: It implies a conscious and balanced effort to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông ấy sống rất kiệm ước nhưng không hề keo kiệt. (He lives very sensibly thrifty but is not at all stingy.)
  • Lối sống kiệm ước giúp gia đình tôi tiết kiệm được nhiều chi phí. (A frugal lifestyle helps my family save a lot of costs.)
  • Bà cụ có thói quen kiệm ước từ thời còn khó khăn. (The old lady has had the habit of sensible thrift since the difficult times.)

Advanced Usage

• "sống kiệm ước": to live frugally/thriftily.

  • Họ dạy con cái cách sống kiệm ước ngay từ nhỏ. (They teach their children how to live thriftily from a young age.)

• "tính kiệm ước": the characteristic of being thrifty.

  • Tính kiệm ước là một đức tính tốt cần rèn luyện. (Thriftiness is a good virtue that needs to be cultivated.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kiệm (adj): Thrifty, frugal. (A root word, often implying careful use of resources).
• Tiết kiệm (v/n): To save; savings/economy. (A more common and general term for saving or economizing).
• Tằn tiện (adj): Stingy, miserly. (Has a more negative connotation than "kiệm ước", implying excessive or unreasonable frugality).

Synonyms

• Tiết kiệm: Economical, saving.
• Dè sẻn: Sparing, frugal (can sometimes lean towards stinginess).
• Tính toán: Calculating, careful with money.

Antonyms

• Hoang phí: Wasteful, extravagant.
• Lãng phí: To waste, to squander.
• Xa xỉ: Luxurious, extravagant.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Ăn chắc mặc bền: (Lit: Eat solidly, wear durably). Means to live a simple, sturdy, and economical life, focusing on practicality and longevity over luxury. This idiom aligns closely with the philosophy of "kiệm ước".
  • Cha mẹ tôi theo quan điểm "ăn chắc mặc bền" nên rất kiệm ước. (My parents follow the "practical and durable" view so they are very thrifty.)

1. Sensibly thrifty