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jīng 精 dǎ 打 xì 细 suàn 算

精打细算 jīng dǎ xì suàn

to budget carefully; to count every penny

Literally: fine strike careful calculate

Intermediate 💼 Work & money
🃏 Practise intermediate chengyu

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. A modern colloquial phrase for careful household accounting.

How to use it

Predicate or adverbial; positive to neutral. Often 过日子要精打细算.

Example sentences

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  1. 妈妈过日子精打细算，每个月都能存下钱。
    Māma guò rìzi jīng dǎ xì suàn, měi gè yuè dōu néng cún xià qián.
    Mum budgets carefully and manages to save money every month.
    mum live days fine strike careful calculate, every (measure) month all can save down money
  2. 旅行前我们精打细算，选了最便宜的机票和酒店。
    Lǚxíng qián wǒmen jīng dǎ xì suàn, xuǎn le zuì piányi de jīpiào hé jiǔdiàn.
    Before the trip we worked out every cost and chose the cheapest flights and hotel.
    travel before we fine strike careful calculate, choose (particle) most cheap (particle) plane-ticket and hotel

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