节衣缩食

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jié yī suō shí
• English Translation: Economize on clothes and food (to tighten one's belt)
• Idiom Composition: 「节」（To economize or restrict）＋「衣」（Clothing）＋「缩」（To reduce or contract）＋「食」（Food or meals）
• Meaning: To live very frugally by cutting back on basic necessities like clothing and food. It describes a state of intentional austerity, often to save money for a specific goal, pay off debt, or survive a period of hardship.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「节衣缩食」 contains the following nuances:

• Purposeful Frugality: Unlike being miserly, this idiom is used when there is a clear 'purpose'—such as supporting family or paying off debt—that justifies the sacrifice.
• Severity of Sacrifice: By targeting 'clothing' and 'food'—the most basic human needs—the idiom implies a level of frugality that is quite strict and involves significant personal discipline.

3. Usage

「节衣缩食」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Devotion to Family: Frequently used in touching or admiring contexts where parents sacrifice their own comfort to provide for their children's education or well-being.
  • Example:「为了供孩子上大学，父母这几年一直节衣缩食。」
    （To send their child to university, the parents have been tightening their belts for the past few years.）
• Overcoming Hardship: Used when a company, nation, or individual faces an economic crisis and must cut spending to survive the difficult period.
  • Example:「公司面临破产危机，全体员工不得不节衣缩食共度难关。」
    （Facing the risk of bankruptcy, all employees had to live frugally to get through the crisis together.）
• Saving for a Goal: Used to describe temporarily lowering one's standard of living to afford a major purchase, such as a home or a trip.
  • Example:「这对年轻夫妇节衣缩食存了五年钱，终于买下了自己的房子。」
    （This young couple pinched pennies for five years and finally bought their own home.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在那段艰苦的岁月里，大家都是靠节衣缩食才熬过来的。
   （During those difficult years, everyone survived by living very frugally.）
2. 与其现在挥霍无度，不如节衣缩食为将来做打算。
   （Instead of squandering money now, we should tighten our belts and plan for the future.）
3. 他虽然收入不高，但通过节衣缩食，每年还能给慈善机构捐款。
   （Although his income is not high, he manages to donate to charity every year by cutting back on his own expenses.）
4. 为了还清债务，他不得不开始过节衣缩食的日子。
   （To pay off his debts, he had no choice but to start living a life of extreme frugality.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The concept originates from the Records of the Grand Historian (史记), which describes 'restricting food and drink and economizing on clothing.' It also appears in the works of the Song Dynasty (宋朝) poet Lu You (陆游).
• In traditional Chinese values, the concept of 勤俭节约 (qín jiǎn jié yuē), or 'diligence and frugality,' is considered a core virtue. Therefore, 节衣缩食 (jié yī suō shí) is often used to praise the mental strength of someone working toward a noble goal.
• In modern society, while consumerism is more prevalent, this idiom remains a common way to describe the disciplined effort required to afford high costs of living, such as housing or elite education.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 省吃俭用 (shěng chī jiǎn yòng): To live frugally; the most common everyday expression for saving money on food and expenses.
  • 艰苦朴素 (jiān kǔ pǔ sù): To live simply and endure hardship; often used as a moral or political slogan to describe a modest lifestyle.
  • 精打细算 (jīng dǎ xì suàn): To calculate meticulously and budget carefully.link
  • 量入为出 (liàng rù wéi chū): To budget according to one's income.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 挥金如土 (huī jīn rú tǔ): To throw money away like dirt; describes extreme extravagance and wastefulness.
  • 大手大脚 (dà shǒu dà jiǎo): To be wasteful or extravagant; spending money without a plan or care.link

6. Summary

节衣缩食 (jié yī suō shí) describes reducing one's basic living expenses to the bare minimum. Unlike simple stinginess, it often carries a connotation of 'perseverance' or 'devotion'—sacrificing current comfort for a greater purpose, such as a child's education or a long-term dream. In Chinese culture, this is generally viewed as a disciplined and virtuous act.