Definition
斤斤计较 is a four-character idiom that literally means 'haggle over every catty' (斤 is a unit of weight). It describes someone who fusses over trivial matters, especially small gains or losses, often in a pettily calculating way. Use it in a negative light — it implies a narrow, penny-pinching attitude that misses the bigger picture.
f.e.
to fuss over minor detailsto be overly concerned with small gains or losses
Examples
- 斤斤计较，。Tā zhège rén tài jīn jīn jì jiào le, lián jǐ kuài qián dōu yào suàn de qīngqīng-chǔchǔ.He fusses over every little thing — he even has to calculate every single dollar clearly.
- ，斤斤计较，。Zài hézuò zhōng, búyào zǒngshì jīn jīn jì jiào, fǒuzé huì yǐngxiǎng dàjiā de shìqì.When working together, don't always haggle over trifles, or it will hurt everyone's morale.
- 斤斤计较，。jīn jīn jì jiào de rén wǎngwǎng huó de hěn lèi, yīnwèi tāmen bǎ jīnglì dōu huā zài xiǎo shì shàng le.People who fuss over every little thing often live very tiredly, because they spend all their energy on small matters.
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