Meanings of 慳
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About 慳
Podcast: 慳
Podcast: 慳
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AI Study Notes for 慳
吝 (lìn) - use 慳 (qiān) when emphasizing excessive stinginess, while 吝 (lìn) suggests reluctance to part with something but may not imply hoarding.
慳 is typically used in informal contexts when describing someone who is overly frugal. Be careful not to confuse it with the more neutral word for 'thrifty' (节俭 jiéjiǎn), as 慳 carries a negative implication. The tone of the word is also important; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone.
Although 慳 is not featured in the HSK vocabulary lists, its meaning connects with HSK Level 3 words related to spending and saving money. Students should focus on understanding the nuances between 慳 and other financial terms to enhance their vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 慳 with the more positive term for thrifty. For example, saying '他是个节俭的人' (He is a thrifty person) is correct, while using 慳 in the same context would imply he is miserly, which is not the intended meaning.
Pronunciation of 慳
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Etymology of 慳
Having a hard 堅 heart 忄; 堅 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 慳
- 1The giveawayHaving a hard 堅 heart 忄; 堅 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 慳? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 慳
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How to say miserly, stingy, thrifty in Chinese
“miserly, stingy, thrifty” in Chinese is慳
The character 慳 (qiān) refers to a person who is miserly or stingy, often excessively so. It can also imply being thrifty, but with a negative connotation, suggesting someone who hoards wealth rather than sharing or spending it wisely.
When to use 慳
慳 is typically used in informal contexts when describing someone who is overly frugal. Be careful not to confuse it with the more neutral word for 'thrifty' (节俭 jiéjiǎn), as 慳 carries a negative implication. The tone of the word is also important; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone.
慳 or something close to it
吝 (lìn) - use 慳 (qiān) when emphasizing excessive stinginess, while 吝 (lìn) suggests reluctance to part with something but may not imply hoarding.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 慳 with the more positive term for thrifty. For example, saying '他是个节俭的人' (He is a thrifty person) is correct, while using 慳 in the same context would imply he is miserly, which is not the intended meaning.
Write 慳
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Practice writing 慳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 慳
Compound Meaning
What does 悭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 慳
慳 (qiān) is negative and implies being miserly, while 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) is a positive term for being thrifty or economical.
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