Meaning
勤俭 describes the virtue of being both hardworking (勤) and frugal (俭). It's a traditional Chinese value emphasizing the combination of working diligently while living simply and avoiding waste. This term often appears in moral education contexts and when praising someone's character or lifestyle.
Usage
勤俭 is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts to describe admirable personal qualities. It's commonly seen in the phrase 勤俭持家 (to manage a household diligently and frugally). Native speakers use it to praise traditional values of hard work combined with careful spending, especially in older generations. It carries positive connotations of virtue and discipline.
Examples
- 01她从小就养成了勤俭的好习惯。.She developed the good habit of being hardworking and thrifty from a young age.
- 02爷爷一生勤俭持家，从不乱花钱。, .Grandpa managed the household diligently and frugally his whole life, never spending money carelessly.
Characters
Common collocations
- 勤俭持家to manage a household diligently and frugally
- 勤俭节约hardworking, thrifty and economical
- 勤俭朴素hardworking, frugal and simple
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have ancient origins. 勤 originally depicted hard physical labor, while 俭 combines the person radical with a phonetic component suggesting restraint. Together they form a classical binomial expressing complementary virtues highly valued in traditional Chinese culture.