NetChai Chinese

What Does 斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jì jiào) Mean?

斤斤计较
jīn jīn jì jiào
Fussing over trifles · trad. 斤斤計較
A customer carefully inspects a single piece of fruit at a market stall, illustrating “fussing over trifles” in Chinese: 斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jì jiào)

Describes someone who is overly concerned with minor details or trivial matters. It implies a tendency to be petty, calculating, or to argue about insignificant things. This idiom highlights a focus on small gains or losses.

What does 斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jì jiào) mean?

斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jì jiào) means "fussing over trifles" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "weigh every catty and compare."

Character by character

  • 斤 jīn catty (unit of weight)
  • 斤 jīn catty (unit of weight)
  • 计 jì calculate
  • 较 jiào compare

When to use it

Chinese speakers use this when criticizing someone for being too particular or stingy, especially regarding money or small advantages. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting that such behavior is tiresome or unreasonable.

Example

别再为那件小事斤斤计较了。
Bié zàiwèi nàjiàn xiǎoshì jīn jīn jì jiào le.
Don't keep fussing over that small matter.
Pro tip: The repetition of 斤 (jīn) emphasizes the extreme meticulousness, like weighing every tiny fraction of a catty. It highlights the extent of someone's fussiness over insignificant details.

Related idioms

绞尽脑汁 · Intense mental effort脚踏实地 · Practical and steady progress筋疲力尽 · Physical exhaustion

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