吝嗇 / 吝啬
lìnsè
The English phrase "stingy" can be translated into Chinese using several forms, most commonly 吝嗇 / 吝啬 (lìnsè). If unsure, use 吝嗇 / 吝啬. Wiktionary also lists 小氣 / 小气 (xiǎoqì) and 摳門 / 抠门 (kōumén).
Meaning: unwilling to spend or give (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 吝嗇 / 吝啬 | lìnsè | |
| 小氣 / 小气 | xiǎoqì | |
| 摳門 / 抠门 | kōumén | informal |
| 摳 / 抠 | kōu |
These terms are used to describe someone who is unwilling to spend or give.
Which one should you use?
吝嗇 / 吝啬 is a more formal or literary term. In contrast, 小氣 / 小气 is a common, colloquial way to describe someone as stingy or petty in daily conversation. The single character 摳 / 抠 can be used colloquially to describe a person's stingy behavior, often as a shorthand for 摳門 / 抠门.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
吝嗇 / 吝啬 is a formal way to say stingy. 小氣 / 小气 is used in colloquial daily conversation. 摳門 / 抠门 is an informal, slightly more colorful or derogatory way to call someone stingy.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express degree, such as "very stingy", you would place an adverb like 很 (hěn) before the adjective, as in 很小氣.
How do you pronounce it?
lìnsè
Did you know?
- The character 摳 / 抠 is used in the same language to describe the action of picking one's nose, adding a layer of disgust to the informal insult of being stingy.
- The word 小氣 / 小气 (xiǎoqì) literally translates to 'small air' or 'small breath', suggesting that a stingy person has a narrow or insignificant spirit.
- The character 摳 / 抠 (kōu), which means to scratch or dig out, describes the physical action of someone digging deep into their pockets to avoid paying.
Examples in context
- 他非常吝啬，从不舍得买任何奢侈品。He is very stingy and never spends money on any luxury items.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stingy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
