节衣缩食
*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.
Have you heard of the idiom "frugality and thrift"?
It means saving on clothes and food, living very frugally without wasting anything.
A long time ago, there was a man in China named Bai Gui.
He was very good at business and earned a lot of money.
However, he did not live a luxurious life just because he was rich.
On the contrary, he saved money every day, did not wear expensive clothes, and did not eat too many delicious foods.
He worked hard and lived together with his family.
Later, everyone thought Bai Gui was very smart and worth learning from.
The idiom "frugality and thrift" comes from Bai Gui's story.
It tells us that if we want to achieve a big goal, like buying a house, studying abroad, or helping family, sometimes we need to "be frugal and thrifty" first, saving money to use on more important things.
In modern society, many students save tuition fees, and young people also choose to "be frugal and thrifty" to realize their dreams.
For example, they might not buy new clothes often or eat out much, but cook for themselves, saving money to spend on studying or traveling.
So, "frugality and thrift" is not only a lifestyle habit but also an attitude of working hard for ideals.
Have you ever "been frugal and thrifty" for a goal?
Next time you need to work hard, you can try it too!
1. Basic Information
- Pinyin: jié yī suō shí
- English Translation: To economize, to live frugally, to cut down on clothing and food expenses
- Idiom Composition: 「节」（To economize, to save）＋「衣」（Clothing）＋「缩」（To reduce, to cut down）＋「食」（Food）
- Meaning: To cut down on clothing and food expenses to reduce spending. It means living frugally and leading a simple life.
2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances
「节衣缩食」 contains the following nuances:
- Economic saving: Refers to reducing living expenses mainly for financial reasons.
- Simple living: Indicates living without luxury, using only the bare essentials.
- Saving for a purpose: Often means consciously saving money for a specific goal, such as saving or repaying debt.
- Frugality in hardship: Sometimes refers to living frugally out of necessity during financial difficulties or crises.
3. Usage
「节衣缩食」 is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Describing living conditions: Used to describe the economic situation of individuals or families and their frugal lifestyle.
- Example:「为了攒钱买房，他们夫妻俩开始节衣缩食。」
（To save money for buying a house, the couple started to live frugally.）
- Example:「为了攒钱买房，他们夫妻俩开始节衣缩食。」
- Expressing economic hardship: Used to express financially difficult situations such as recessions or disasters.
- Example:「在经济不景气的时期，许多家庭不得不节衣缩食以度过难关。」
（During economic downturns, many families have to cut back on their living expenses to get through tough times.）
- Example:「在经济不景气的时期，许多家庭不得不节衣缩食以度过难关。」
- Describing character or behavior: Used to describe someone who is frugal or who makes efforts to achieve a goal.
- Example:「他为了资助弟弟上大学，自己节衣缩食，生活十分简朴。」
（He lived frugally and led a very simple life to support his younger brother's university education.）
- Example:「他为了资助弟弟上大学，自己节衣缩食，生活十分简朴。」
Additional Examples:
- 面对高昂的医疗费用，这个家庭不得不节衣缩食，四处筹款。
（Faced with high medical expenses, this family had to cut back on their living expenses and raised funds from various sources.） - 在疫情期间，许多企业为了生存，不得不节衣缩食，减少不必要的开支。
（During the pandemic, many companies had to reduce expenses and cut unnecessary spending to survive.） - 为了实现出国留学的梦想，她一直节衣缩食，努力攒钱。
（To realize her dream of studying abroad, she has been living frugally and saving money diligently.） - 虽然现在生活条件好了，但爷爷奶奶仍然保持着节衣缩食的习惯。
（Although their living conditions have improved, the grandparents still maintain the habit of living frugally.） - 他从小就养成了节衣缩食的好习惯，从不浪费一分钱。
（He developed the good habit of living frugally from a young age and never wastes a single cent.）
4. Cultural Background and Notes
- In China, the virtue of '勤俭节约' (diligence and frugality) has been valued since ancient times. The idiom '节衣缩食' reflects this traditional value.
- In modern Chinese society, with the rise of consumerism, the concept of '节衣缩食' has become less emphasized. However, due to increased awareness of environmental issues, it is gaining attention again as a sustainable lifestyle.
5. Similar and Opposite Idioms
- Similar Idioms:
- 省吃俭用 (shěng chī jiǎn yòng): To save on food and living expenses.
- 俭以养德 (jiǎn yǐ yǎng dé): To cultivate virtue through frugality.
- Opposite Idioms:
- 挥霍无度 (huī huò wú dù): To spend recklessly and wastefully.
- 挥金如土 (huī jīn rú tǔ): To spend money like water.
6. Summary
'节衣缩食' is an idiom embodying the traditional Chinese value of '勤俭节约' (diligence and frugality). While its meaning has evolved in modern society, it is gaining renewed attention as a sustainable lifestyle. When using this idiom, it is important to understand the cultural values behind it and apply it appropriately according to context.