节衣缩食

• 拼音: jié yī suō shí
• 汉字拆解: 节 = to save; 衣 = clothing; 缩 = to shrink, reduce; 食 = food

含义

To economize on food and clothing; to live frugally. Tightening one's belt to save money.

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.

例句

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。

用法指南

语境: hardship, sacrifice, family

语气: sympathetic

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal