吝 (lìn) - stingy & miserly
吝 · lìn
stingy;
miserly;
mean;
reluctant to part with;
to begrudge
stingymiserlymean
Usage highlights
stingymiserreluctant to part withnot stint ongrudgebegrudge
Usage & contexts
Examples
- He is very stingy with money (吝啬).
- Don't be reluctant to share your knowledge (不吝赐教).
- She didn't spare any effort to help (不吝力气).
Collocations
- stingy(吝啬)
- miser(吝啬鬼)
- reluctant to part with(吝惜)
- not stint on(不吝)
- grudge(吝情)
- begrudge(吝于)
Idioms
- Stingy as a ghost(吝啬鬼)
- Not stinting with advice(不吝赐教)
- Extremely stingy(一毛不拔)
Cultural background
FAQ- Traditionally viewed as a negative character trait in Confucian ethics, opposite to generosity.
- In Chinese culture, being labeled as '吝' carries strong social disapproval.
- The character appears in classical texts criticizing miserly behavior.