HSK · Level 83
45 words
Chinese word
精打细算
Pronunciation
Pinyinjīng dǎ xì suàn
Meaning
- idiombudget carefully
Example
我们要精打细算，才能攒下更多钱。wǒ men yào jīng dǎ xì suàn cái néng zǎn xià gèng duō qián
We need to budget carefully to save more money.
More examples
老年人往往更精打细算，以便应对未来的医疗开销。lǎo nián rén wáng wǎng gèng jīng dǎ xì suàn yǐ biàn yìng duì wèi lái de yī liáo kāi xiāo
Older people are often more careful with their spending so they can prepare for future medical expenses.
Core concept
Plans the use of money or other limited resources in fine detail, leaving little room for waste.
Common phrases
精打细算地安排开支jīng dǎ xì suàn dì ān pái kāi zhī
plan expenses carefully
Similar words
量入为出liàng rù wéi chū: Keep spending within the limits set by one's income.
开源节流kāi yuán jié liú: Handle finances by finding more income and cutting expenses.
省吃俭用shěng chī jiǎn yòng: Put money aside by being frugal with food and daily necessities.
节衣缩食jié yī suō shí: Save on living expenses through simple clothing and modest meals.
Definition in Chinese
指对金钱或计划做详细的核算，以便减少浪费并合理分配资源。zhǐ duì jīn qián huò jì huà zuò xiáng xì de hé suàn yǐ biàn jián shǎo làng fèi bìng hé lǐ fēn pèi zī yuán
Word origin
精打细算 (jīngdǎxìsuàn, "careful budgeting") is built from 精 (jīng, "precise") + 打 (dǎ, "plan") + 细 (xì, "detailed") + 算 (suàn, "calculate"), so precise planning rests on detailed calculation.
Usage tips
- The idiom can cover time, supplies, and project resources as well as cash when the surrounding context identifies what is being managed.
Other meanings
- be thriftyidiom
- manage money wiselyidiom