tùng tiệm
Definition
- Adjective:
- Thrifty; economical: The primary meaning of "tùng tiệm" describes a person or their habits as being careful and sparing in spending money, using resources wisely to avoid waste.
- Frugal; parsimonious: It implies managing with little by spending only on what is strictly necessary.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Số tiền ít nhưng tùng tiệm cũng đủ. (The money is little, but being thrifty is also enough.)
- Ăn tiêu tùng tiệm là một thói quen tốt. (Spending frugally is a good habit.)
- Bà ấy sống rất tùng tiệm. (She lives very economically.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "tùng tiệm" often carries a positive connotation of prudence and wise management, especially in contexts of limited resources. It is not typically used to describe extreme stinginess.
Variants and Related Words
- Tiết kiệm (adj, v): to save, economical. This is a more common and general synonym for saving resources.
- Dè sẻn (adj): sparing, stinting. This emphasizes being sparing in use.
Synonyms
- Thrifty: Characterized by economy and good management.
- Frugal: Sparing or economical regarding money or food.
- Economical: Giving good value or service in relation to the money, time, or effort spent.
- Parsimonious: Very unwilling to spend money or use resources (can be more negative than "tùng tiệm").
Related Idioms
- While "tùng tiệm" itself is not commonly part of a fixed idiom, it is conceptually related to the Vietnamese value of "ăn chắc mặc bền" (literally: eat securely, wear durably), which emphasizes practicality and long-term frugality over flashy spending.
adj
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economic, thrifty
