缺斤短两
quē jīn duǎn liǎng
to give short weight; to short-change
Character by character
缺quē
lack
lack
斤jīn
jin
jin
短duǎn
short
short
两liǎng
liang
liang
Example
这个摊主被顾客投诉缺斤短两，市场管理处当场罚了款。
Customers complained that this stallholder gave short weight, and the market office fined him on the spot.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
斤 and 两 are the traditional weight units (today 1 jin = 500 g = 10 liang). Said of sellers who cheat on the scales, and by extension of any service that skimps: 缺斤短两的现象, 从不缺斤短两.
Learn this in Lesson 135 · HSK 7–9: 菜市场里 (At the wet market)
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