儉 (jiǎn) - Frugal, thrifty, economical & modest and simple in habits.

儉Tone 3

jiǎn ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

儉 · jiǎn

Frugal, thrifty, economical;

modest and simple in habits.

Frugal, thrifty, economicalmodest and simple in habits.

Usage highlights

Frugal and simpleThrifty and economicalCostFrugal livingModest and simpleFrugality and honesty

Synonyms

  • 省— to save, economize
  • 节— to economize, be frugal
  • 朴— simple, plain

Antonyms

  • 奢— luxurious, extravagant
  • 侈— wasteful, excessive
  • 费— to waste, spend extravagantly

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He leads a frugal lifestyle (生活俭朴).
  • We should practice thrift (节俭).
  • The company implemented cost-saving measures (俭省措施).
  • She is known for her modest and simple character (俭素的性格).

Collocations

  • Frugal and simple(俭朴)
  • Thrifty and economical(节俭)
  • Cost-saving(俭省)
  • Frugal living(俭约)
  • Modest and simple(俭素)
  • Frugality and honesty(俭廉)

Idioms

  • Diligence and frugality make a house prosper(勤俭持家)
  • Frugality in youth prevents want in old age(俭以防匮)
  • Frugality and honesty are fundamental virtues(俭以养廉)
  • Thrift is the source of abundance(俭为共德)
  • Frugality leads to prosperity, extravagance to ruin(俭则昌，淫则亡)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Frugality is a core Confucian virtue, emphasized in classics like the 'Analects'.
  • Traditional Chinese culture values thrift as essential for family prosperity and social stability.
  • The character reflects the historical importance of resource conservation in agrarian societies.

FAQ