B1 Idiom Neutral

精打细算

jingda xisuan

Careful calculation; meticulous planning

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This idiom describes someone who plans their finances carefully to save money.

  • Means: To calculate carefully and budget meticulously.
  • Used in: Discussing household expenses, business planning, or personal savings.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about being 'stingy' (吝啬), but being 'wise' with money.
Calculator + Pencil + Piggy Bank = Smart Budgeting

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to count money carefully. You use it when you want to save money for something special.
When you are '精打细算', you plan your spending very well. It is a good way to manage your life and save for the future.
This idiom describes the act of meticulous financial planning. It is used to describe people who are responsible with their budget, ensuring that every cent is used efficiently to achieve long-term goals.
The phrase '精打细算' denotes a strategic approach to resource management. It implies that the individual is not merely saving, but actively calculating and optimizing their expenditures to maximize utility and ensure financial security.
Beyond simple frugality, '精打细算' embodies a sophisticated cognitive approach to economic behavior. It reflects an internalized discipline where the agent evaluates the marginal utility of every expenditure, effectively balancing immediate desires against long-term fiscal sustainability.
The idiom '精打细算' serves as a cultural marker of prudent fiscal stewardship. It encapsulates the intersection of traditional values regarding resource preservation and modern economic rationality, functioning as both a descriptor of behavior and a normative standard for responsible adulthood.

Meaning

To be meticulous in planning and budgeting, especially concerning money.

🌍

Cultural Background

Reflects the value of '勤俭节约' (diligence and frugality).

💡

Context matters

Use it to praise, not to criticize.

Meaning

To be meticulous in planning and budgeting, especially concerning money.

💡

Context matters

Use it to praise, not to criticize.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.

为了省钱，我们必须______。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 精打细算

The context is saving money, which requires careful planning.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, it is a positive trait.

Related Phrases

🔄

勤俭节约

synonym

Diligence and frugality

Where to Use It

💍

Planning a wedding

A: 婚礼太贵了，我们得精打细算。

neutral
💼

Business meeting

Manager: 我们需要精打细算，减少不必要的开支。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Jing' (Jingle) of coins being counted carefully.

Visual Association

A person with a calculator in one hand and a tiny pencil in the other, checking every receipt.

Rhyme

精打细算，生活不乱。

Story

Xiao Wang wanted to buy a house. He started to track every cup of coffee. He became very '精打细算'. Finally, he bought his dream home.

Word Web

节省理财节约计划开支预算

Challenge

Try to plan your weekly grocery budget using only 50% of your usual amount.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Hacer cuentas

Focus on the process vs. the lifestyle.

French high

Compter ses sous

French version is more informal.

German partial

Den Gürtel enger schnallen

Focus on restriction vs. calculation.

Japanese high

やりくりする

Japanese is more about 'making do' with what you have.

Arabic moderate

تدبير الأمور

Broader scope than just money.

Chinese n/a

精打细算

The benchmark.

Korean high

알뜰하게 살다

Focus on the result of the lifestyle.

Portuguese moderate

Fazer as contas

Less about a lifestyle, more about a specific moment.

Easily Confused

精打细算 vs 吝啬

Both involve money, but one is positive and one is negative.

Use 精打细算 for smart planning, 吝啬 for being cheap.

FAQ (1)

No, it is a positive trait.

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