syun3 sei2 cou2算死草

Jyutpingsyun3 sei2 cou2

Yalesyun séi chóu

形容詞

Definition

Extremely stingy, miserly, or penny-pinching.

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How it's used

Describes someone who is excessively stingy or penny-pinching to an extreme degree. It carries a negative connotation of being overly calculating about money, often at the expense of one's own comfort or social relationships. The imagery implies that the person is so obsessed with counting every cent that they would count until the grass withers.

Examples

keoi5佢ping4平si4時hou2好syun3算sei2死cou2草，lin4連maai5買zi1支seoi2水dou1都m4唔se2捨dak1得。

He is usually such a miser, he cannot even bear to buy a bottle of water.

heoi3去leoi5旅hang4行m4唔hou2好gam3咁syun3算sei2死cou2草laa1啦，naan4難dak1得heoi3去jat1一ci3次。

Don't be such a miser on your trip, it is a rare chance to go.

Common phrases

hou2好syun3算sei2死cou2草

very stingy

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being thrifty or frugal, which is better described as 慳家. 算死草 specifically highlights a negative, obsessive, or petty attitude toward spending money.