stingy; miserly; to dig or scrape at
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to dig at; to pick at; to scrape at
informalDescribes the action of poking, digging, or scraping at something, often with a finger or small tool.
Bié别
yòng用
shǒu手
zhǐ指
kōu抠
sou搜
ěr耳
duo朵
，
bù不
wèi卫
shēng生
。
Don't pick at your ears with your fingers; it's not hygienic.
Hái孩
zi子
yòng用
shù树
zhī枝
zài在
shā沙
dì地
lǐ里
kōu抠
sou搜
xiǎo小
dòng洞
。
The child used a twig to poke little holes in the sand.
adjective
stingy; miserly; penny-pinching
informalOften reduplicated as "抠抠搜搜". This sense is very common and usually carries a negative connotation.
Zhè这
rén人
zhēn真
kōu抠
sou搜
，
xiàng像
gè个
shǒu守
cái财
nú奴
。
He's so stingy, like a miser.
Dà大
fang方
diǎnr点
bié儿
，
zhè别
me这
kōu么
kōu抠
sōu抠
sōu搜
de搜
的
。
Be more generous; don't be so penny-pinching.
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Tā他
duì对
qián钱
kōu抠
sou搜
de得
yào要
mìng命
，
cóng从
bù不
qǐng请
kè客
。
He's extremely stingy with money and never treats anyone.
Bàn办
xǐ喜
shì事
kě可
bié别
nà那
me么
kōu抠
sou搜
。
Don't be so stingy when you're hosting a wedding celebration.