小气

• Pinyin: xiǎo qi
• Desglose de hanzi: 小 = small/narrow; 气 = 气 (breath, spirit, demeanour) — a person of narrow, petty spirit

Significado

Tacaño; rácano; mezquino (también de carácter).

Can refer to financial tightfistedness (reluctant to spend) or to a petty, ungenerous personality. When applied to demeanour, it implies someone who is calculative or not magnanimous. Colloquial and mildly derogatory.

Ejemplos

1. 他为人小气，请客吃饭时总是斤斤计较，让朋友们颇为尴尬。
2. 邻居抱怨说她太小气，连一把葱都不愿意借给别人。
3. 做生意不能太小气，适当的投入和让利才能换来长久的合作关系。

Guía de uso

Contexto: personality, daily life, relationships

Tono: critical

Correcto

• 你别这么小气嘛，就多点一道菜，大家一起吃又怎么了？(Don't be so stingy — just order one more dish, what's the harm in everyone eating together?)
• 他平时对自己挺小气的，但对子女的教育投入却从不吝啬。(He is quite frugal with himself in daily life, but he never skimps on investing in his children's education.)

Incorrecto

• 他小气地走过去 — 小气 is a personality adjective, not an adverb of manner; use 吝啬地 or 小心翼翼地 depending on the intended meaning

Origen e historia

小 (small/little) + 气 (spirit/breath/manner) — having a small, narrow spirit; lacking generosity

Contexto cultural

Época: Modern

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal