When do I use 吝啬 vs 小气?

Use 吝啬 in formal contexts (writing, speeches) to describe stinginess strictly about money or resources. Use 小气 in everyday speech to mean stingy or petty, including narrow‑mindedness.

Can 小气 mean 'stingy' in a financial sense?

Yes, 小气 commonly means stingy with money or possessions in casual conversation. For example, '他太小气了，从不请客' (He's too stingy, never treats others).

Is 吝啬 ever used in spoken Chinese?

Rarely. 吝啬 is mostly written or used in very formal situations. In speech, even in serious discussions, 小气 is more natural unless you want a very elevated tone.

Can 小气 describe a person who is not stingy but just petty?

Yes, 小气 often describes a petty, small‑minded personality. For example, '他因为一句玩笑就生气，真小气' (He got angry over a joke; really petty).

Easily confusedHSK 5

吝啬 vs 小气 (lìnsè vs xiǎoqì): formal stinginess vs colloquial pettiness

Both 吝啬 and 小气 mean 'stingy', but they differ in formality and scope. 吝啬 is a formal term used primarily in writing and formal speech to describe extreme unwillingness to spend money or resources. 小气 is the everyday colloquial word for 'stingy', and it also extends to mean 'petty' or 'narrow-minded'. Choosing the wrong one can sound either overly bookish or inappropriately casual.

吝啬 and 小气 both describe a person's reluctance to part with money or possessions, but they belong to different registers and have different connotations. 吝啬 is a formal, written word that strictly relates to stinginess with resources; it implies a severe, miserly character. 小气 is the default spoken term that covers both financial stinginess and a petty, narrow-minded attitude. Learners often overuse 吝啬 in casual conversation or fail to use 小气 when referring to petty behavior beyond money.

When to use each

吝啬lìnsè

stingy (formal)

Use 吝啬 in formal writing, official documents, or serious speech when describing someone who is excessively unwilling to spend money or share resources. It is the appropriate term for literary or academic contexts.

吝啬 is almost never used for petty behavior in general; it focuses narrowly on material miserliness.

小气xiǎoqì

stingy / petty (colloquial)

Use 小气 in everyday conversation to say someone is stingy with money or things, or to describe a person as petty, narrow-minded, or ungenerous in attitude. It is the natural choice in spoken Chinese.

小气 can be used as a stative verb: 他很 '小气' (he is stingy). It also appears in the phrase '太小气了' (too stingy / too petty).

At a glance

	吝啬	小气
Register / Formality	Formal; mainly written or serious speech	Colloquial; default in conversation
Scope of meaning	Primarily financial stinginess; narrow focus on resources	Stinginess with money AND pettiness, narrow-mindedness in character
Grammatical usage as predicate	Used with 很 (e.g., 很吝啬), but less common; often appears as 吝啬的 in attributive position	Very common as predicate: 很小气; also attributive: 小气的人
Negation	不吝啬 (bù lìnsè), but formal tone maintained	不小气 (bù xiǎoqì), natural in speech

Examples

吝啬
这个吝啬的富豪从不肯捐款给慈善机构。
Zhè ge lìnsè de fùháo cóng bù kěn juānkuǎn gěi císhàn jīgòu.
This stingy rich man never donates to charities.
Formal context; 吝啬 fits the written tone and the focus on money.
小气
他很小气，连一块钱都要计较。
Tā hěn xiǎoqì, lián yī kuài qián dōu yào jìjiào.
He is very stingy; he even cares about a single dollar.
Everyday speech; 小气 is natural for talking about small money.
小气
你不要这么小气，开个玩笑而已。
Nǐ bù yào zhème xiǎoqì, kāi ge wánxiào éryǐ.
Don't be so petty; it was just a joke.
Here 小气 means 'petty' or 'narrow-minded', not about money.
吝啬
他的吝啬是出了名的，一分钱都要掰成两半花。
Tā de lìnsè shì chūle míng de, yī fēn qián dōu yào bāi chéng liǎng bàn huā.
His stinginess is famous; he squeezes every penny.
Formal description; 吝啬 works well in this written style.
小气
为了这点小事生气，你也太小气了。
Wèile zhè diǎn xiǎoshì shēngqì, nǐ yě tài xiǎoqì le.
Getting angry over such a small thing, you're too petty.
Correct use of 小气 as 'petty', not 吝啬.
吝啬
这么吝啬的人，我劝你不要和他合作。
Zhème lìnsè de rén, wǒ quàn nǐ bù yào hé tā hézuò.
Such a stingy person, I advise you not to cooperate with him.
Formal advice; 吝啬 fits the serious tone.

Common mistakes

Using 吝啬 in everyday conversation: '他太吝啬了' sounds bookish and unnatural; use '他太小气了'.
Using 小气 in formal writing, e.g., in an essay about economics: '小气的政策' is wrong; use '吝啬的政策' or a different term.
Confusing 小气 with 小心 (xiǎoxīn, careful) or 小器 (xiǎoqì, narrow-minded), though 小器 is rare; the common word is 小气.
Thinking 吝啬 can describe pettiness in non‑financial matters: '他的思想很吝啬' is incorrect; use '小心眼' or '小气'.

FAQ

When do I use 吝啬 vs 小气?: Use 吝啬 in formal contexts (writing, speeches) to describe stinginess strictly about money or resources. Use 小气 in everyday speech to mean stingy or petty, including narrow‑mindedness.
Can 小气 mean 'stingy' in a financial sense?: Yes, 小气 commonly means stingy with money or possessions in casual conversation. For example, '他太小气了，从不请客' (He's too stingy, never treats others).
Is 吝啬 ever used in spoken Chinese?: Rarely. 吝啬 is mostly written or used in very formal situations. In speech, even in serious discussions, 小气 is more natural unless you want a very elevated tone.
Can 小气 describe a person who is not stingy but just petty?: Yes, 小气 often describes a petty, small‑minded personality. For example, '他因为一句玩笑就生气，真小气' (He got angry over a joke; really petty).