“吝啬”在英语中有多种常见表达,具体可根据语境和表达侧重点来选择:
stingy:最常用的表达之一,形容人在金钱、物质等方面十分小气,不愿意多付出。
例句:He's so stingy that he never buys anyone a present.(他太吝啬了,从来不给任何人买礼物。)
mean:除了有“卑鄙的;刻薄的”意思外,也可表示人吝啬,尤其在口语中较为常用。
例句:Don't be so mean with the money; we need to buy some proper supplies.(别在钱上这么小气,我们需要买些像样的物资。)
cheapskate:名词,指“吝啬鬼;小气鬼”,用于形容那些极度吝啬、不愿花钱的人。
例句:My roommate is a real cheapskate; he never even offers to split the bill.(我的室友真是个吝啬鬼,他连分摊账单都不肯。)
miserly:强调极度吝啬,不仅在金钱上,在情感、精力等方面也不愿付出。
例句:The miserly old man lived alone in a big house, refusing to share his wealth with anyone.(那个吝啬的老头独自住在一所大房子里,拒绝与任何人分享他的财富。)
close-fisted:字面意思是“紧握拳头的”,引申为“吝啬的;一毛不拔的”,形象地表达出不愿松开手付出东西的状态。
例句:She's been close-fisted with her time lately, always too busy to help.(最近她在时间上很吝啬,总是太忙,不肯帮忙。)