cramped; tight financially
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
narrow and small; cramped; tight (space)
dialectDescribes physical spaces, passages, or objects that are constricted or lacking in width. Commonly used in northern dialects.
Zhè这
wū屋
zi子
tài太
zhǎi窄
ba巴
le了
，
zhuǎn转
shēn身
dōu都
kùn困
nan难
。
This room is too cramped; it's hard to even turn around.
Zhè这
tiáo条
hú胡
tòng同
zhǎi窄
ba巴
de得
hěn很
，
qì汽
chē车
kāi开
bú不
jìn进
qù去
。
This alleyway is extremely narrow; cars can't drive in.
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Zhǎi窄
ba巴
de的
xiǎo小
kàng炕
shàng上
zuò坐
zhe着
sān三
gè个
rén人
。
Three people were sitting on the small, cramped kang.
adjective
not well-off; tight financially; hard up; strapped for cash
dialectDescribes a state of financial constraint or economic hardship where money is scarce. Often used to describe living conditions or circumstances rather than permanent poverty.
Tā他
jiā家
rì日
zi子
guò过
de得
tǐng挺
zhǎi窄
ba巴
de的
，
hái孩
zi子
xué学
fèi费
dōu都
còu凑
bù不
qí齐
。
His family is living quite hard up; they can't even scrape together the children's tuition.
Zuì最
jìn近
shǒu手
tóu头
yǒu有
diǎn点
zhǎi窄
ba巴
，
xià下
gè个
yuè月
zài再
huán还
qián钱
ba吧
。
I'm a bit strapped for cash lately; I'll pay you back next month.
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Suī虽
rán然
jīng经
jì济
shàng上
zhǎi窄
ba巴
diǎn点
，
dàn但
yī一
jiā家
rén人
hěn很
hé和
mù睦
。
Although financially tight, the family is very harmonious.