What does "Bean Counter" mean?

Accountant (derogatory) Slightly dismissive term for accountants or finance people.

How do you use "Bean Counter" in a sentence?

The bean counters won't approve it. Typical bean counter.

Bean Counter

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: Accountant (derogatory)

会计（贬义）

Contable (despectivo)

会計士（軽蔑的）

회계사 (경멸적)

Slightly dismissive term for accountants or finance people.

对会计或财务人员稍带轻蔑的称呼。

Término ligeramente despectivo para contables o personal de finanzas.

会計士や経理担当者をやや見下すような表現。

회계사나 재무 담당자를 약간 무시하는 표현.

Examples

The bean counters won't approve it.
那些算账的不会批准的
Los cuentagarbanzos no lo aprobarán
経理の連中が承認しないだろう
경리 쪽에서 승인 안 해줄 거야
Typical bean counter.
典型的算账的
Típico cuentagarbanzos
典型的な経理屋だ
전형적인 경리쟁이야

Pronunciation

/biːn ˈkaʊntə/

Usage Guide

Context: finance

Tone: dismissive

✓ Do Say

Criticizing finance
批评财务部门时使用
para criticar al departamento financiero
経理を批判するとき
재무 부서 비판 시

✗ Don't Say

To accountants
不要当面对会计说
No se dice delante de los contables
会計士本人には使わないこと
회계사에게 직접

Common Mistakes

Mildly offensive

Origin & History

From counting beans as trivial accounting.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: All classes

Pop culture: Office culture

Regional notes: Universal.

Variations

Bean counterBean counters