啬 sè miserly
miserly; stingy; thrifty
How it came to be
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
The oldest form shows wheat above a granary: grain brought in and stored away.
用法
- Bound; essentially only appears in 吝啬 (lìnsè, stingy/miserly): 他很吝啬 (tā hěn lìnsè) he's a real skinflint.
- 吝啬 is a character flaw (mean with money), stronger and more negative than 节约 (jiéyuē, thrifty), which is a virtue.