勤俭持家
qín jiǎn chí jiā
to run a household with hard work and thrift
Character by character
勤qín
diligent
diligent
俭jiǎn
thrifty
thrifty
持chí
manage
manage
家jiā
household
household
Example
奶奶一辈子勤俭持家，旧衣服总是补了又补。
All her life Grandma ran the home with hard work and thrift, mending old clothes again and again.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A traditional household virtue, praised in older relatives, especially women, and in families (勤俭持家的好传统). Young people sometimes apply it to themselves, half joking, when they start saving; compare 勤俭 (5-18) and 省吃俭用 (2-2).
Learn this in Lesson 189 · HSK 7–9: 先花后还 (Spend now, pay later)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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