sik1嗇啬
Jyutpingsik1
Yalesīk
Definition
To save, stint, or consume less.
colloquialmoneydescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily as a verb or adjective to describe someone who is overly reluctant to spend money or resources. While it shares meaning with 慳, it carries a stronger negative connotation of being miserly or tight-fisted rather than just frugal. It is most commonly encountered in the compound 吝嗇.
Examples
Why are you being so stingy, not even willing to buy a shirt?
Related words
Common phrases
stingy
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a standalone verb in formal writing, as it is strictly colloquial in spoken Cantonese. Learners often confuse it with 慳, but 嗇 specifically highlights a stingy personality trait rather than the act of saving money for a purpose.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
