节衣缩食

• Pinyin: jié yī suō shí
• Desglose de hanzi: 节 = to save; 衣 = clothing; 缩 = to shrink, reduce; 食 = food

Significado

Apretarse el cinturón; ahorrar hasta en comida y ropa.

An idiom describing extreme frugality, usually due to financial hardship or to save for a specific goal. Often used to describe parents who sacrifice their own comfort to support their children's education or future.

Ejemplos

1. 为了供孩子上大学，他们一家人节衣缩食了好多年。
2. 创业初期，她节衣缩食省下每一分钱投入公司。
3. 那个年代物资匮乏，家家户户都得节衣缩食。

Guía de uso

Contexto: hardship, sacrifice, family

Tono: sympathetic

Correcto

• 父母节衣缩食供我读书。(My parents scrimped and saved to put me through school.)
• 那段日子我们只能节衣缩食。(During that period we had to tighten our belts.)

Incorrecto

• 用'节衣缩食'形容主动的简约生活 (Don't use 节衣缩食 for voluntary minimalism — it implies necessity-driven frugality, not lifestyle choice)

Origen e historia

A classical Chinese idiom: 节衣 (economize on clothing) + 缩食 (reduce food). Describes cutting back on the two most basic necessities of life.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal