斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jì jiào) — to fuss over minor details; to be overly concerned with small gains or losses
Definition
An idiom for fussing obsessively over every tiny gain or loss, to the point of being petty. Carries a negative judgment on the person's character.
idiom
to fuss over minor detailsto be overly concerned with small gains or losses
Examples
- 斤斤计较，。Tā zhè ge rén tài jīn jīn jì jiào le, lián jǐ kuài qián dōu yào suàn dé qīng qīng chǔ chǔ.He fusses over every little thing — he even has to calculate every single dollar clearly.
- ，斤斤计较，。Zài hé zuò zhōng, bú yào zǒng shì jīn jīn jì jiào, fǒu zé huì yǐng xiǎng dà jiā dī shì qì.When working together, don't always haggle over trifles, or it will hurt everyone's morale.
- 斤斤计较，。jīn jīn jì jiào De rén wǎng wǎng huó dé hěn lèi, yīn wèi tā men bǎ jīng lì dōu huā zài xiǎo shì shàng le.People who fuss over every little thing often live very tiredly, because they spend all their energy on small matters.
Origin
Compound word构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head
The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.
斤斤 (scrupulous) + 计较 (calculate and compare) means fussing over small gains and losses.
Appears in
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