haan1 gaa1慳家悭家
Jyutpinghaan1 gaa1
Yalehāan gā
Definition
Frugal, thrifty, or economical in managing household expenses.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
Carries a positive connotation of being sensible and responsible with money, rather than just being cheap. It is frequently used to praise someone for their ability to manage household finances or save for the future. While it describes a person's character, it can also be used to describe a lifestyle or a specific choice.
Examples
She is very frugal and never spends money recklessly when shopping.
Why are you being so frugal? You should splurge a bit since you are on vacation.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 孤寒, which is a negative term for someone who is stingy or miserly. 慳家 implies a virtue of thriftiness, whereas 孤寒 implies a lack of generosity.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
