Meanings of 嗇
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About 嗇
Podcast: 嗇
Podcast: 嗇
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AI Study Notes for 嗇
吝 (lìn) — use 嗇 (sè) when emphasizing a negative aspect of stinginess, while 吝 (lìn) carries a more neutral tone of reluctance to part with something.
Be cautious when using 嗇, as it carries a negative connotation and may offend someone if used to describe them directly. It often appears in phrases like '嗇吝' (sè lìn), meaning stingy or miserly. Ensure you use it in contexts where such qualities are being critiqued.
Since 嗇 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, focus on related terms such as '节俭' (jié jiǎn, thrifty) or '吝啬' (lìn sè, stingy) to understand nuances in meaning. Familiarizing yourself with these words will help you grasp the broader context of frugality in Chinese.
Learners often confuse 嗇 with other characters related to saving or being thrifty, like 节俭 (jié jiǎn). For example, saying '他是一个节俭的人' (He is a thrifty person) is correct, but calling someone 嗇 in a positive context is misleading.
Pronunciation of 嗇
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Etymology of 嗇
Simplified form of 嗇. Pictograph of wheat (麥) being stored in a granary. Based on the original meaning "harvest; hoard". The meaning later shifted to "stingy".
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 嗇
Simplified form of 嗇. Pictograph of wheat (麥) being stored in a granary. Based on the original meaning "harvest; hoard". The meaning later shifted to "stingy".
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 嗇
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How to say miserly, stingy, thrifty in Chinese
“miserly, stingy, thrifty” in Chinese is嗇
The character 嗇 (sè) conveys the idea of being miserly or stingy, often referring to someone who is excessively careful with money or resources. It can also imply a sense of thriftiness, but with a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of generosity or warmth in interpersonal relationships.
When to use 嗇
Be cautious when using 嗇, as it carries a negative connotation and may offend someone if used to describe them directly. It often appears in phrases like '嗇吝' (sè lìn), meaning stingy or miserly. Ensure you use it in contexts where such qualities are being critiqued.
嗇 or something close to it
吝 (lìn) — use 嗇 (sè) when emphasizing a negative aspect of stinginess, while 吝 (lìn) carries a more neutral tone of reluctance to part with something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嗇 with other characters related to saving or being thrifty, like 节俭 (jié jiǎn). For example, saying '他是一个节俭的人' (He is a thrifty person) is correct, but calling someone 嗇 in a positive context is misleading.
Write 嗇
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Word Family of 嗇
Compound Meaning
What does 吝啬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗇
You can say '他很嗇,' which means 'He is very stingy.'
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