zing1 daa2 sai3 syun3精打細算精打细算
Jyutpingzing1 daa2 sai3 syun3
Yalejīng dá sai syun
Definition
To calculate carefully and budget strictly, especially regarding money.
colloquialmoneydaily actions
How it's used
Describes a positive trait of being thrifty and prudent with finances, often used to praise someone for their management skills. It carries a sense of being smart and resourceful rather than just being stingy. You will frequently hear this used when discussing household management or planning for major expenses.
Examples
He is very careful with his spending and won't waste money.
If you want to save money, you need to learn how to budget carefully.
Related words
Common phrases
know how to budget carefully
live a thrifty life
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 孤寒, which implies being stingy or miserly in a negative way. 精打細算 focuses on the intelligence and planning behind the saving, whereas 孤寒 focuses on the unwillingness to spend.
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.
