yī máo bù bá: 一毛不拔 - Unwilling to pull out even a single hair; Extremely Stingy, Miserly

• Keywords: yimaobuba, 一毛不拔, Chinese idiom for stingy, miserly in Chinese, Chinese chengyu, tight-fisted, cheapskate, Chinese sayings, learn Chinese idioms, iron rooster, 铁公鸡, 杨朱
• Summary: Learn the Chinese idiom (chengyu) 一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá), a vivid phrase that literally means “unwilling to pull out even one hair.” This entry explores its meaning of being extremely stingy or miserly, its cultural origins in Daoist philosophy, and how to use it in modern conversation to describe a tight-fisted person or cheapskate. Discover example sentences, related terms, and common mistakes to master this colorful Chinese expression for a miser.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yī máo bù bá
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Adjective
• HSK Level: N/A (Considered an advanced, but very common, idiom)
• Concise Definition: To be extremely stingy and unwilling to part with even the smallest amount of money or possession.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine someone so incredibly cheap that they wouldn't even pluck a single, insignificant hair from their own body to help someone else or benefit the world. 一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá) paints a powerful picture of extreme, almost comical, selfishness and miserliness. It is always used as a strong criticism and carries a very negative connotation.

• 一 (yī): One; a single.
• 毛 (máo): Hair, feather. This character also colloquially refers to a small unit of Chinese currency (a “dime” or 1/10 of a Yuan). This double meaning makes the idiom especially fitting for describing financial stinginess.
• 不 (bù): Not, no.
• 拔 (bá): To pull out, to pluck, to uproot.

Combined, the characters literally mean “not even one hair will be pulled out.” This creates a powerful metaphor for someone who refuses to give up anything, no matter how small or insignificant, for the sake of others.

• Philosophical Origins: Surprisingly, this phrase didn't start as a simple insult. It originates from the teachings of the philosopher Yang Zhu (杨朱), who lived during the Warring States period (c. 475-221 BCE). His philosophy was a form of ethical egoism focused on self-preservation. The philosopher Mencius criticized him by summarizing his viewpoint as: “Even if he could benefit the entire world by plucking a single hair, he would not do it” (拔一毛而利天下, 不为也 - bá yī máo ér lì tiānxià, bù wéi yě). For Yang Zhu, this was a philosophical stance against sacrificing any part of oneself for an abstract “greater good.”
• Modern Transformation: Over centuries, the phrase has been completely stripped of its philosophical context. Today, 一毛不拔 has lost its connection to Yang Zhu's ideology and is used exclusively to mean “miserly” or “stingy” in a purely negative, non-philosophical way.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: The closest English equivalent is “Scrooge,” “tightwad,” or “penny-pincher.” However, 一毛不拔 is more visceral and visual due to its literal meaning. It's also important to distinguish it from the Chinese virtue of being frugal (`节俭 jiéjiǎn`). While Western culture can sometimes conflate frugality with stinginess, Chinese culture clearly separates the two. Being frugal is about avoiding waste and living simply, which is highly praised. 一毛不拔, on the other hand, describes a selfish refusal to help others or spend money even when necessary, which is socially condemned.

• Connotation: Strongly negative. It's an insult or a harsh criticism. Calling someone 一毛不拔 implies they are pathologically cheap and selfish.
• Formality: It's used in informal and semi-formal contexts. You would use it to complain about a friend, boss, or relative to another person. It would be too confrontational to say directly to the person's face unless you intend to start an argument. It's common in everyday conversation, social media posts, and can appear in literature or TV shows to describe a character's personality.

• Example 1:
  • 他那么有钱，却一毛不拔，连请朋友喝杯咖啡都舍不得。
  • Pinyin: Tā nàme yǒuqián, què yī máo bù bá, lián qǐng péngyǒu hē bēi kāfēi dōu shěbude.
  • English: He's so rich, yet he's a total cheapskate; he's not even willing to treat a friend to a cup of coffee.
  • Analysis: This is a classic usage, complaining about someone whose stinginess is unreasonable given their wealth.
• Example 2:
  • 我们公司老板是出了名的一毛不拔，连办公室的纸都要省着用。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī lǎobǎn shì chūle míng de yī máo bù bá, lián bàngōngshì de zhǐ dōu yào shěng zhe yòng.
  • English: Our company's boss is famously miserly; he even wants us to save on office paper.
  • Analysis: This shows how the idiom can be used to describe someone in a position of power, highlighting their stinginess in a professional context. `出了名的` (chūle míng de) means “famously” or “notoriously”.
• Example 3:
  • 你别指望他会捐款，他这个人一毛不拔。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié zhǐwàng tā huì juānkuǎn, tā zhè ge rén yī máo bù bá.
  • English: Don't expect him to donate any money; he's an absolute miser.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used to predict someone's selfish behavior based on their established character trait.
• Example 4:
  • 他对别人一毛不拔，对自己却很大方。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì biérén yī máo bù bá, duì zìjǐ què hěn dàfāng.
  • English: He's extremely stingy towards others, but very generous with himself.
  • Analysis: This sentence creates a sharp contrast, emphasizing that the person's stinginess is a matter of selfishness, not a lack of funds.
• Example 5:
  • 聚会时人人都出钱，就他找借口，真是一毛不拔。
  • Pinyin: Jùhuì shí rénrén dōu chūqián, jiù tā zhǎo jièkǒu, zhēnshi yī máo bù bá.
  • English: Everyone chipped in for the party, but he was the only one who made excuses. He's such a tightwad.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a common social scenario where the idiom is used to call out someone for not contributing their fair share.
• Example 6:
  • 我叔叔不是一毛不拔，他只是比较节俭而已。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ shūshu bùshì yī máo bù bá, tā zhǐshì bǐjiào jiéjiǎn éryǐ.
  • English: My uncle isn't a cheapskate; he's just relatively frugal.
  • Analysis: This is an excellent example of directly contrasting 一毛不拔 with `节俭` (frugal) to defend someone's character.
• Example 7:
  • 这个传说里的地主就是个一毛不拔的“铁公鸡”。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge chuánshuō lǐ de dìzhǔ jiùshì ge yī máo bù bá de “tiě gōngjī”.
  • English: The landlord in this legend is a miserly “iron rooster”.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom alongside its popular slang synonym, `铁公鸡` (tiě gōngjī - iron rooster), which reinforces the meaning.
• Example 8:
  • 如果人人都一毛不拔，那社会公益事业还怎么发展？
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ rénrén dōu yī máo bù bá, nà shèhuì gōngyì shìyè hái zěnme fāzhǎn?
  • English: If everyone were completely unwilling to give, how could social charities possibly develop?
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a more abstract, societal context to criticize a lack of public generosity.
• Example 9:
  • 让他借给你一点儿钱？简直是让一毛不拔的人拔毛，不可能！
  • Pinyin: Ràng tā jiè gěi nǐ yīdiǎnr qián? Jiǎnzhí shì ràng yī máo bù bá de rén bá máo, bù kěnéng!
  • English: Ask him to lend you a little money? That's basically asking a miser to pluck his own hair—impossible!
  • Analysis: A clever, metaphorical sentence that plays on the literal meaning of the idiom for emphasis.
• Example 10:
  • 他对金钱的态度简直到了一毛不拔的程度。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì jīnqián de tàidù jiǎnzhí dàole yī máo bù bá de chéngdù.
  • English: His attitude towards money has simply reached the point of being pathologically miserly.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure, `到了…的程度` (dàole…de chéngdù), means “reached the level/degree of,” and is used to emphasize the extremity of his stinginess.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `一毛不拔` with `节俭` (Frugal).
  • This is the most critical distinction for a learner. `节俭 (jiéjiǎn)` is a positive trait of living simply and not being wasteful. `一毛不拔` is a negative trait of selfishly hoarding resources and refusing to spend money on others or even on necessities.
  • Correct: `他生活很节俭，但朋友有难时他从不小气。` (He lives frugally, but he is never stingy when his friends are in trouble.)
  • Incorrect: `他很一毛不拔，从来不乱花钱。` (This is awkward. While true, `一毛不拔` is too strong an insult if you simply mean he doesn't waste money. `节俭` would be the correct word.)
• Mistake 2: Overusing it for minor incidents.
  • 一毛不拔 describes a core personality trait, not a one-time action. If a friend forgets their wallet once and you have to pay, calling them 一毛不拔 would be a huge exaggeration and quite rude. The term is reserved for people who are consistently and notoriously cheap.
• False Friends: “Selfish” vs. “Stingy”
  • While a person who is 一毛不拔 is definitely selfish (`自私 zìsī`), `自私` is a much broader term. A person can be selfish with their time, their emotions, or their attention without necessarily being stingy with money. 一毛不拔 specifically refers to selfishness regarding money and material possessions.

• Antonyms:
  • 慷慨大方 (kāngkǎi dàfāng) - Generous; magnanimous. The direct opposite.
  • 挥金如土 (huī jīn rú tǔ) - Lit. “to throw gold around like dirt”; describes someone who is extravagant and spends money wastefully.
• Synonyms & Similar Concepts:
  • 铁公鸡 (tiě gōng jī) - Lit. “iron rooster.” A popular and highly colloquial slang term for a miser. The logic is that you can't pluck a single feather from a rooster made of iron. It's a perfect synonym.
  • 小气 (xiǎoqì) - The most common, everyday adjective for “stingy” or “petty.” It's less formal and less intense than 一毛不拔.
  • 吝啬 (lìnsè) - A more formal or literary two-character word for “stingy” or “miserly.”
  • 斤斤计较 (jīn jīn jìjiào) - To haggle over every ounce; describes someone who is petty and calculates every tiny detail, especially concerning money. This focuses more on the *behavior* of being petty, while 一毛不拔 describes the underlying *trait*.
  • 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - Frugal, thrifty. An important positive contrast, representing a respected virtue.