勤俭节约

qín jiǎn jié yuē

hard-working and thrifty

Character by character

勤qín
diligent

俭jiǎn
frugal

节jié
save

约yuē
economise

爷爷奶奶一辈子勤俭节约，一件大衣能穿二十年。

Grandma and Grandpa were hard-working and thrifty all their lives; one overcoat would last them twenty years.

Tone: positive (praise).

The phrase of slogans and school lessons: 勤俭节约是中华民族的传统美德, “thrift is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation”. Often paired with 反对浪费.

Learn this in Lesson 119 · HSK 7–9: 光盘不该是一阵风 (Editorial: clearing your plate)

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.