Definition

1. Noun:

   • A miser; a stingy person: A person who is extremely unwilling to spend money or use resources, often to the point of being contemptible or petty. This term carries a strong negative connotation of meanness and pettiness.

2. Adjective (attributive):

   • Stingy; miserly; mean: Describes the characteristic of being a miser. Used to characterize a person's behavior or nature.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Hắn ta đúng là một tên ma bùn, chẳng bao giờ chịu chia sẻ thứ gì. (He is truly a miser, never willing to share anything.)
  • Đừng có làm ma bùn, mời mọi người ly cà phê đi. (Don't be such a stingy person, buy everyone a cup of coffee.)

• Adjective:

  • Tính cách ma bùn của anh ta khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His miserly character makes everyone uncomfortable.)
  • Bà chủ quán có tiếng là rất ma bùn. (The shop owner has a reputation for being very stingy.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "ma bùn" is highly colloquial and derogatory. It is stronger and more insulting than neutral terms like "tiết kiệm" (thrifty). It implies not just carefulness with money, but a selfish, petty, and contemptible attitude.

Variants and Related Words

• Bủn xỉn (adj): Stingy, miserly. A close synonym, often used interchangeably with "ma bùn."
• Hà tiện (adj): Stingy, parsimonious. Another synonym, slightly less colloquial than "ma bùn."
• Keo kiệt (adj): Stingy, tight-fisted. A common synonym with similar derogatory force.

Synonyms

• Miser: A person who hoards wealth and spends as little as possible.
• Skinflint: A person who is excessively unwilling to spend money.
• Scrooge: A person who is miserly (from the Charles Dickens character).
• Tightwad: A stingy person (informal).

Related Idioms

• While "ma bùn" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it is used in expressive, proverbial-style phrases to criticize behavior.
  • Sống mà ma bùn thế thì ai thèm chơi. (If you live so stingily, who would want to be friends with you?)