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shěng 省 chī 吃 jiǎn 俭 yòng 用

省吃俭用 shěng chī jiǎn yòng

to live frugally; to scrimp and save

Literally: save eat frugal use

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Attested in Qing dynasty fiction.

How to use it

Predicate or adverbial; positive or neutral. Often 省吃俭用地过日子.

Example sentences

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  1. 父母省吃俭用，送我出国留学。
    Fùmǔ shěng chī jiǎn yòng, sòng wǒ chūguó liúxué.
    My parents scrimped and saved to send me abroad to study.
    parents save eat frugal use, send me go-abroad study-abroad
  2. 他省吃俭用了两年，终于买了一辆车。
    Tā shěng chī jiǎn yòng le liǎng nián, zhōngyú mǎi le yī liàng chē.
    He lived frugally for two years and finally bought a car.
    he save eat frugal use (particle) two years, finally buy (particle) one (measure) car

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