tiện tặn
Definition
- Adjective:
- Frugal; Thrifty: The primary meaning describes a person who is very careful and sparing in their use of money or resources, avoiding any waste. It implies prudence and economy.
- Parsimonious; Stingy: In a more negative sense, it can describe someone who is excessively sparing or unwilling to spend money, bordering on being miserly.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Bà ấy sống rất tiện tặn để dành tiền cho con đi học. (She lives very frugally to save money for her children's education.)
- Tính ông ấy tiện tặn lắm, ít khi mua sắm gì mới. (He has a very thrifty character; he rarely buys anything new.)
- Đừng có tiện tặn quá, sức khỏe là quan trọng nhất. (Don't be too stingy; health is the most important thing.)
Advanced Usage
- "tiện tặn chi li": This phrase intensifies the meaning, describing someone who is meticulously or excessively frugal, counting every penny.
- Bác ấy tiện tặn chi li từng đồng một. (He is meticulously frugal with every single penny.)
Variants and Related Words
Tiết kiệm (adj, v): Economical; to save. This is a more common and neutral synonym for being economical.
- Cô ấy là người tiết kiệm. (She is an economical person.)
Hà tiện (adj): Stingy, miserly. This term carries a stronger negative connotation than tiện tặn.
- Ông chủ hà tiện không chịu tăng lương. (The stingy boss refused to raise salaries.)
Synonyms
- Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
- Thrifty: Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
- Parsimonious: Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy.
Related Idioms
- Ki bo tiện tặn: A common rhyming phrase that emphasizes being stingy or tight-fisted.
- Người ki bo tiện tặn thường khó có bạn thân. (A stingy, tight-fisted person often finds it hard to have close friends.)