lìnsè: 吝啬 - Stingy, Miserly, Parsimonious

• Keywords: lìnsè, 吝啬, stingy in Chinese, miserly Chinese, cheapskate in Chinese, Chinese word for stingy, frugal vs stingy Chinese, 小气 (xiǎoqì), 抠门 (kōumén), 大方 (dàfang)
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 吝啬 (lìnsè), a powerful adjective used to describe someone who is stingy, miserly, or parsimonious. This comprehensive guide explores its strong negative connotation in Chinese culture, where generosity is highly valued. We'll break down the characters, provide practical examples, and contrast it with the positive virtue of being frugal (`节俭 jiéjiǎn`), helping you understand exactly when and how to use this important term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lìnsè
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Unwilling to spend money or share things with others; stingy.
• In a Nutshell: `吝啬` (lìnsè) is a strong, negative term describing a character flaw. It's not just about saving money; it's about an unreasonable and selfish refusal to spend or share, even when it's socially expected or necessary. Someone who is `吝啬` hoards their resources (money, possessions, even time or praise) to a fault. Calling someone `吝啬` is a serious criticism of their character.

• 吝 (lìn): This character means “to be stingy” or “to begrudge.” It's composed of 文 (wén - culture, literature) over 口 (kǒu - mouth). One way to remember it is to think of someone who is very “cultured” (文) with their words (口) about giving things away—that is, they are very guarded and reluctant.
• 啬 (sè): This character also means “to be stingy” or “to be frugal.” Its ancient form was a pictograph of grain stalks being stored in a granary, representing the act of hoarding and not letting anything out.
• The Combination: `吝啬` combines two characters with nearly identical meanings. In Chinese, this repetition often serves to create a more formal, emphatic, and stronger word. So, `吝啬` is like “stingy-stingy,” which emphasizes the depth of this negative trait.

In Chinese culture, generosity (`大方 dàfang`) and the willingness to share are cornerstones of social harmony and building relationships (`关系 guānxi`). Treating friends to meals, giving thoughtful gifts, and helping out in times of need are not just nice gestures; they are fundamental social obligations. Therefore, being labeled `吝啬` is a significant social condemnation. It suggests a person is selfish, unwilling to participate in the reciprocal nature of social life, and cannot be relied upon to fulfill their social duties. It damages one's “face” (`面子 miànzi`) and can lead to social isolation. `吝啬` (Stingy) vs. `节俭` (Frugal): This is a critical distinction. In Western culture, being “frugal” or “thrifty” is generally a respected trait. The same is true in China, where `节俭` (jiéjiǎn) is a celebrated virtue.

• `节俭 (jiéjiǎn)` is about being wise and responsible with one's resources. A `节俭` person avoids waste, lives simply, and saves for the future. This is positive.
• `吝啬 (lìnsè)` is when this crosses into a social and moral failing. A `吝啬` person refuses to spend money even on necessities, on their own well-being, or on socially required acts of generosity. They are seen as cold and selfish.

For example, a person who brings their own lunch to work to save money is `节俭`. A wealthy person who refuses to contribute to a group gift for a colleague's wedding is `吝啬`.

`吝啬` is a common word in daily conversation, though it carries a heavy negative weight.

• Connotation: Strongly negative. Use it with care when describing someone directly.
• Formality: Can be used in both formal writing and informal conversation. In casual chats, the word `小气 (xiǎoqì)` is a very common and slightly softer alternative.
• Usage Scenarios:
  • Complaining: People often use `吝啬` to complain about a boss who doesn't give raises, a landlord who won't make repairs, or a rich relative who never helps out.
  • Joking/Teasing: Among close friends, you might playfully call someone `吝啬` for not wanting to split a bill, but there's usually a grain of truth to the accusation.
  • Metaphorical Use: The concept can be extended beyond money. Someone can be “stingy with praise” (`吝啬赞美`), “stingy with smiles” (`吝啬微笑`), or “stingy with their time” (`吝啬自己的时间`).

• Example 1:
  • 他这个人太吝啬了，连一杯水都舍不得给你喝。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhège rén tài lìnsè le, lián yī bēi shuǐ dōu shěbude gěi nǐ hē.
  • English: He is so stingy, he's not even willing to give you a glass of water.
  • Analysis: This is a direct and harsh criticism of someone's character. The phrase `连…都… (lián…dōu…)` is used to emphasize the extreme nature of his stinginess.
• Example 2:
  • 别那么吝啬，请大家吃顿饭吧！
  • Pinyin: Bié nàme lìnsè, qǐng dàjiā chī dùn fàn ba!
  • English: Don't be so stingy, treat everyone to a meal!
  • Analysis: This is something you might say to a friend, half-jokingly, to encourage them to be generous. It's a common social situation in China.
• Example 3:
  • 我们老板在工资方面非常吝啬。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen lǎobǎn zài gōngzī fāngmiàn fēicháng lìnsè.
  • English: Our boss is extremely stingy when it comes to salaries.
  • Analysis: A typical complaint among colleagues. It clearly frames the boss's behavior as unreasonable and unfair.
• Example 4:
  • 他对别人很大方，对自己却很吝啬。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì biérén hěn dàfang, duì zìjǐ què hěn lìnsè.
  • English: He is very generous to others, but very frugal/stingy with himself.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows an interesting nuance. Here, `吝啬` might carry a less negative connotation, closer to “extremely frugal,” as it's directed inward. It highlights a selfless character.
• Example 5:
  • 他从不吝啬自己的赞美之词。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóng bù lìnsè zìjǐ de zànměi zhī cí.
  • English: He is never stingy with his words of praise.
  • Analysis: This is a powerful metaphorical use of the word. It means he is quick to praise others, which is seen as a very positive trait. This is a common and excellent sentence pattern to learn.
• Example 6:
  • 他的吝啬在朋友中是出了名的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de lìnsè zài péngyǒu zhōng shì chūle míng de.
  • English: His stinginess is well-known among his friends.
  • Analysis: Here, `吝啬` is used as a noun. The structure `是出了名的 (shì chūle míng de)` means “is famous for” (usually in a negative sense).
• Example 7:
  • 作为一个富翁，他过着非常吝啬的生活。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè fùwēng, tā guòzhe fēicháng lìnsè de shēnghuó.
  • English: As a millionaire, he lives a very miserly life.
  • Analysis: This highlights the contradiction between his wealth and his behavior, which is the classic definition of a miser.
• Example 8:
  • 在知识分享上，这位老师一点也不吝啬。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhīshì fēnxiǎng shàng, zhè wèi lǎoshī yīdiǎn yě bù lìnsè.
  • English: When it comes to sharing knowledge, this teacher is not the least bit stingy.
  • Analysis: Another great metaphorical example. This is high praise for a teacher, implying they are generous with their time and knowledge.
• Example 9:
  • 我不是吝啬，我只是最近手头有点紧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùshì lìnsè, wǒ zhǐshì zuìjìn shǒutóu yǒudiǎn jǐn.
  • English: I'm not stingy, I'm just a little tight on money recently.
  • Analysis: A common way to defend oneself against an accusation of being `吝啬`. `手头紧 (shǒutóu jǐn)` is a colloquial way to say “short on cash.”
• Example 10:
  • 如果你对爱情也如此吝啬，你将永远找不到幸福。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ duì àiqíng yě rúcǐ lìnsè, nǐ jiāng yǒngyuǎn zhǎo bù dào xìngfú.
  • English: If you are also so stingy with love, you will never find happiness.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `吝啬` in a deep, emotional context, meaning unwilling to give affection or emotional effort.

• False Friend: `吝啬` (lìnsè) vs. “Frugal” (`节俭` jiéjiǎn)
  • This is the biggest pitfall for learners. Never use `吝啬` to describe a positive act of saving money.
  • Correct: 我奶奶很节俭，她一生省了很多钱。 (Wǒ nǎinai hěn jiéjiǎn, tā yīshēng shěngle hěnduō qián.) - My grandma is very frugal, she saved a lot of money in her life.
  • Incorrect: ~~我奶奶很吝啬，她一生省了很多钱。~~ This sounds like you are criticizing your grandmother for being a miser, which is likely not the intention.
• False Friend: `吝啬` vs. “Cheap”
  • In English, “cheap” can mean both “low cost” and “stingy.” `吝啬` only means stingy. It describes a person's character, not the price or quality of an object.
  • To say a product is low-cost, use `便宜 (piányi)`.
  • Incorrect: ~~这个手机很吝啬。~~ (This phone is very stingy.)
  • Correct: 这个手机很便宜。 (Zhège shǒujī hěn piányi.) - This phone is very cheap.
• Using `吝啬` for Prudent Choices
  • Do not use `吝啬` to describe a smart financial decision you made.
  • Incorrect: ~~我很吝啬，所以买了打折的票。~~ (I am very stingy, so I bought the discounted ticket.)
  • Correct: 为了省钱，我买了打折的票。 (Wèile shěngqián, wǒ mǎile dǎzhé de piào.) - In order to save money, I bought the discounted ticket.

• 小气 (xiǎoqì) - A very common, colloquial synonym for `吝啬`. It's slightly less formal and literally means “small air” or “small-spirited.”
• 抠门 (kōumén) - A very informal and vivid slang term for a cheapskate. It literally means “to scrape the door,” implying someone tries to extract value from everything.
• 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - The positive counterpart and functional antonym: frugal, thrifty. A virtue.
• 大方 (dàfang) - The direct antonym of `吝啬`: generous.
• 省钱 (shěng qián) - A neutral verb phrase: “to save money.” This describes an action, not a character trait.
• 一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá) - A four-character idiom (chengyu) describing an extremely miserly person. It means “unwilling to pull out even a single hair.”
• 铁公鸡 (tiě gōng jī) - A slang noun for a cheapskate. Literally “iron rooster,” because you can't pluck a single feather from it.
• 舍不得 (shěbude) - A verb meaning “to be reluctant to part with” or “to hate to use/spend.” It often underlies `吝啬` behavior. Ex: 他舍不得花钱 (Tā shěbude huāqián - He's reluctant to spend money).