铁公鸡

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tiěgōngjī: 铁公鸡 - Stingy Person, Penny-pincher, Tightwad

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 铁公鸡, tiegongji, tie gong ji, Chinese for stingy, Chinese slang for cheap, iron rooster meaning, penny-pincher in Chinese, Chinese tightwad, 一毛不拔, what is a tiegongji
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī), a vivid and popular Chinese slang term for a very stingy person or a “tightwad”. Literally translating to “iron rooster”, this term paints a humorous picture of someone so cheap that you couldn't pluck a single feather from them. This guide breaks down its cultural origins, modern usage, and provides practical examples to help you understand one of China's most descriptive insults for a penny-pincher.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): tiě gōng jī
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: N/A
  • Concise Definition: A metaphor for a very stingy, miserly person from whom it is impossible to extract anything of value.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine trying to pluck a feather from a rooster made of solid iron—it's impossible. That's the feeling behind 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī). It's a humorous yet critical term for someone who is extremely unwilling to spend money, especially on others. It implies a level of stinginess that goes beyond simple frugality and becomes a social flaw.

Character Breakdown

  • 铁 (tiě): Iron or metal. It signifies something hard, unyielding, and impenetrable.
  • 公 (gōng): Male, public. Here it specifies the type of chicken.
  • 鸡 (jī): Chicken or rooster.
  • The characters combine to create a powerful visual metaphor. A normal rooster (`公鸡`) can have its feathers plucked, but an iron rooster (`铁公鸡`) is impossible to get anything from. The money of a `铁公鸡` is as tightly held as the “feathers” on this imaginary iron bird.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The term 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī) is a shorthand for the longer idiom `铁公鸡——一毛不拔 (tiě gōng jī, yī máo bù bá)`, which means “an iron rooster—not a single feather can be plucked.” The phrase `一毛不拔` (literally “not pull one hair/feather”) is an ancient chengyu describing extreme selfishness.
  • Cultural Comparison: In Western culture, we might call someone a “Scrooge,” a “tightwad,” or a “penny-pincher.” While similar, 铁公鸡 is more visually graphic and widely used in casual, everyday speech. “Scrooge” has literary origins and feels a bit more formal or archetypal. 铁公鸡 is the kind of term friends would use to tease someone who never wants to split a dinner bill.
  • Social Values: Chinese culture often places a high value on generosity (`大方 dàfang`) and hospitality, especially among friends and colleagues. The act of treating others to meals (`请客 qǐngkè`) is a cornerstone of building and maintaining relationships (`关系 guānxi`). Being labeled a 铁公鸡 is a strong social criticism because it means a person is failing to fulfill these basic social expectations of reciprocity and generosity.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 铁公鸡 is highly informal and is used in conversations among peers, friends, and family. It carries a negative and often teasing or complaining tone. You would never use it in a formal business meeting or to describe someone you want to show respect to.
  • It's often used to describe someone's general character or their behavior in a specific situation where they were expected to spend money but refused.
  • For example, it's perfect for complaining about a friend who never pays their share, a boss who refuses to give bonuses, or a relative who is notoriously cheap with gifts.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 别指望老板请客，他可是个有名的铁公鸡。
    • Pinyin: Bié zhǐwàng lǎobǎn qǐngkè, tā kěshì ge yǒumíng de tiěgōngjī.
    • English: Don't expect the boss to treat us; he's a famous penny-pincher.
    • Analysis: This is a typical complaint among colleagues. Using 铁公鸡 here expresses a shared frustration in a colloquial, informal way.
  • Example 2:
    • 每次聚会他都从不付钱，真是个铁公鸡。
    • Pinyin: Měi cì jùhuì tā dōu cóngbù fùqián, zhēnshì ge tiěgōngjī.
    • English: He never pays at any of our gatherings, what a tightwad.
    • Analysis: This sentence describes a pattern of behavior, using 铁公鸡 as a label to summarize the person's character in social situations.
  • Example 3:
    • 我男朋友不是小气，他只是节俭，跟铁公鸡不一样。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ nánpéngyou búshì xiǎoqì, tā zhǐshì jiéjiǎn, gēn tiěgōngjī bù yīyàng.
    • English: My boyfriend isn't cheap, he's just frugal; that's different from being a penny-pincher.
    • Analysis: This example is excellent for learners as it directly contrasts 铁公鸡 (a negative trait) with being frugal (`节俭 jiéjiǎn`), which is seen as a more neutral or even positive quality.
  • Example 4:
    • 想从他那儿借钱？你以为他不是铁公鸡吗？
    • Pinyin: Xiǎng cóng tā nàr jièqián? Nǐ yǐwéi tā búshì tiěgōngjī ma?
    • English: You want to borrow money from him? Did you think he wasn't a total cheapskate?
    • Analysis: This is a rhetorical question used to emphasize how impossible a task is due to the person's stinginess.
  • Example 5:
    • 他对自己都那么抠门，真是个铁公鸡。
    • Pinyin: Tā duì zìjǐ dōu nàme kōumén, zhēnshì ge tiěgōngjī.
    • English: He's even stingy with himself, what an iron rooster.
    • Analysis: This highlights the extremity of the stinginess. The person isn't just cheap with others, but also with themselves, using the related slang `抠门 (kōumén)`.
  • Example 6:
    • 我们公司发福利的时候，你就能看出谁是铁公鸡了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī fā fúlì de shíhou, nǐ jiù néng kànchū shéi shì tiěgōngjī le.
    • English: When our company gives out benefits, you can really see who the tightwads are.
    • Analysis: This sentence implies that a 铁公鸡 boss or company would be ungenerous with employee bonuses or perks.
  • Example 7:
    • 让他捐款比让铁公鸡拔毛还难。
    • Pinyin: Ràng tā juānkuǎn bǐ ràng tiěgōngjī bámáo hái nán.
    • English: Getting him to donate money is harder than plucking a feather from an iron rooster.
    • Analysis: This sentence creatively uses the full metaphorical meaning of the phrase, comparing the difficulty of one task to the impossible nature of the other.
  • Example 8:
    • 你不能老是当铁公鸡，偶尔也该请朋友吃顿饭。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng lǎoshì dāng tiěgōngjī, ǒu'ěr yě gāi qǐng péngyou chī dùn fàn.
    • English: You can't always be a cheapskate; you should treat your friends to a meal once in a while.
    • Analysis: This is a piece of direct, informal advice given to a friend, pointing out their flaw and suggesting a corrective action (`请客`).
  • Example 9:
    • 为了省几块钱，他宁愿走一个小时，这个铁公鸡！
    • Pinyin: Wèile shěng jǐ kuài qián, tā nìngyuàn zǒu yí ge xiǎoshí, zhège tiěgōngjī!
    • English: To save a few bucks, he'd rather walk for an hour, what a penny-pincher!
    • Analysis: This is an exclamation of exasperation, highlighting a specific action that reveals the person's `铁公鸡` nature.
  • Example 10:
    • 他是不是铁公鸡我不知道，但他对家人很大方。
    • Pinyin: Tā shìbushì tiěgōngjī wǒ bù zhīdào, dànshì tā duì jiārén hěn dàfang.
    • English: I don't know if he's a penny-pincher or not, but he is very generous with his family.
    • Analysis: This shows a nuanced situation. Someone might be a 铁公鸡 with friends or strangers but generous (`大方 dàfang`) with family, showing that the label can be context-dependent.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Noun, not an Adjective: A common mistake is to use 铁公鸡 like an adjective. For example, `他很铁公鸡 (tā hěn tiěgōngjī)` is incorrect. You must use it as a noun.
    • Correct: 他是(一个)铁公鸡。 (Tā shì (yí ge) tiěgōngjī.) - He is a penny-pincher.
    • Incorrect: ~~他很铁公鸡。~~
  • Frugal vs. Stingy: 铁公鸡 is not a compliment. It should not be confused with `节俭 (jiéjiǎn)`, which means “frugal” or “thrifty” and is generally considered a virtue. A `节俭` person saves their own money wisely. A 铁公鸡 is someone who refuses to spend money on others, even when it is socially expected, thus appearing selfish.
  • Connotation: The term is almost always negative, but it can range from light-hearted teasing among close friends to a serious criticism of someone's character. The tone of voice and context are crucial.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá) - The full idiom from which 铁公鸡 is derived. It means “unwilling to pull out a single hair,” describing extreme stinginess.
  • 吝啬 (lìnsè) - A more formal, two-character adjective for “stingy” or “miserly.” You would see this in writing.
  • 小气 (xiǎoqì) - A very common, colloquial adjective for “stingy” or “petty.” It's less graphic than 铁公鸡 but used very frequently.
  • 抠门 (kōumén) - A popular, vivid slang verb/adjective meaning “stingy.” Literally “to pick at a door,” it implies trying to save every last cent. Often used interchangeably with 小气.
  • 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - The positive antonym in spirit. An adjective meaning “frugal” or “thrifty,” which is considered a virtue.
  • 大方 (dàfang) - The direct antonym. An adjective meaning “generous.” Someone who is the opposite of a 铁公鸡 is very `大方`.
  • 请客 (qǐngkè) - The social act of “treating someone” to a meal or drink. A 铁公鸡 famously avoids having to `请客`.