qiān
悭
stingy; miserly; to lack
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesadjective
stingy; miserly; tight-fisted
Describes a person who is reluctant to spend money or part with possessions. Often used in the compound 悭吝.
Tā他
wéi为
rén人
qiān悭
lìn吝
，
cóng从
bù不
qǐng请
kè客
chī吃
fàn饭
。
He is a stingy person by nature and never treats others to meals.
Qiān悭
lìn吝
guǐ鬼
lián连
yī一
bēi杯
shuǐ水
dōu都
shě舍
bu不
de得
gěi给
。
A miser cannot even bear to give away a single cup of water.
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Bié别
nà那
me么
qiān悭
，
gāi该
huā花
de的
qián钱
hái还
shì是
yào要
huā花
de的
。
Don't be so stingy; you still have to spend the money that needs to be spent.
verb
to lack; to be short of; to be deficient in
literaryPrimarily used in the literary set phrase 缘悭一面 (yuán qiān yí miàn), meaning to lack the predestined affinity to meet someone, or to miss the chance for a meeting.
Yuán缘
qiān悭
yí一
miàn面
，
wèi未
néng能
xiāng相
jiàn见
，
shèn甚
wéi为
yí遗
hàn憾
。
It is a great pity that we lacked the fate to meet and were unable to see each other.
Cǐ此
cì次
xíng行
chéng程
cōng匆
cōng匆
，
yǔ与
lǎo老
yǒu友
yuán缘
qiān悭
yí一
miàn面
。
This trip was rushed, and I missed the chance to meet my old friend.