calibre2001 Posted February 7, 2012 at 12:56 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 12:56 PM What is the most common way in Chinese to say a person is calculative? Ive been told 斤斤计较 but are there alternative ways to say it? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
歐博思 Posted February 7, 2012 at 01:30 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 01:30 PM Maybe 精打细算？Or 老抠门儿 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted February 7, 2012 at 03:56 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 03:56 PM 计较 is the most direct, common term imo. 他人很计较 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gato Posted February 7, 2012 at 04:31 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 04:31 PM I don't think 计较 is what you are looking for. It's a verb and means to mind. You could try 很精 which means very shrewd, or 很有心眼 which means very calculating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted February 7, 2012 at 05:13 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 05:13 PM I don't think 计较 is what you are looking for. It's a verb and means to mind. There's a fair amount of adjectival usage (e.g. 你碰见过很计较的人吗？), and the implication pretty much is 'fussy' or 'calculative'. We often say someone is really 计较 about money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted February 7, 2012 at 10:31 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 10:31 PM Depending on the context 小心眼 might also be appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooironic Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:02 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:02 PM What is "calculative" exactly? The sense you are referring to does not seem to be in Wiktionary or the New American Oxford Dictionary. I guess you mean "cunning" or "conniving" in which case 狡詐 would suffice...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calibre2001 Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:22 PM Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:22 PM Hi, shrewd, petty minded is what I have in mind. But not only in terms of money. For example, suppose boyfriend stays together with partner. Both take turns to clean the house each week. Partner falls sick for one week so boyfriend cleans the house during that one week. Once partner recovers boyfriend insists that partner cleans the house for an extra week as replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:48 PM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 11:48 PM 他怎么这么小心眼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted February 8, 2012 at 01:28 AM Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 at 01:28 AM Re #8, I think 斤斤計較 and 計較 are the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calibre2001 Posted February 8, 2012 at 02:42 AM Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 at 02:42 AM Thanks folks. Skylee, are the same words used in spoken cantonese? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted February 8, 2012 at 02:55 AM Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 at 02:55 AM yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knickherboots Posted February 8, 2012 at 08:16 AM Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 at 08:16 AM I'd support a form of gato's 心眼儿, which is fairly frequently used in Beijing, as an option. It's a bit tricky to use because it has a variety of meanings and can be used for both negative and positive connotations. For example, 他太有心眼儿了 could be interpreted as "He's too calculating" or "He's so shrewd/clever/insightful." Usually, people are found as having insufficient 心眼儿 (没心眼儿，缺心眼儿), which makes sense, given the rough-and-tumble nature of modern Chinese society. But some people have too much of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter2010 Posted February 8, 2012 at 04:29 PM Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 at 04:29 PM Hao about “他专爱打算盘分斤拨两”？ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinewind Posted February 14, 2012 at 01:29 AM Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 at 01:29 AM 斤斤计较、算计、计较、精打细算..... and a hundred others (i am not kidding).... " 他专爱打算盘分斤拨两" and "老抠门儿 "- my favorite...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Zhu Posted April 9, 2012 at 06:42 PM Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 at 06:42 PM I am a native speaker but not quite good at English, so don't know if "calculative" has a positive or negative meaning for description. But in Chinese you should choose words carefully, depending on whether you are complimenting or grumbling. Positive or neutral：精打细算 Negative：斤斤计较，算计，计较，抠门，小心眼（oral） Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malanting Posted June 3, 2012 at 03:48 AM Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 at 03:48 AM Hi, shrewd, petty minded is what I have in mind. But not only in terms of money.For example, suppose boyfriend stays together with partner. Both take turns to clean the house each week. Partner falls sick for one week so boyfriend cleans the house during that one week. Once partner recovers boyfriend insists that partner cleans the house for an extra week as replacement. 斤斤计较 will do in this case. 你怎么这种事情都斤斤计较啊？ 算得这么细干什么？ 你太会算计了吧。（算计） 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.