xiǎoqì: 小气 - Stingy, Petty, Ungenerous

Keywords: xiaoqi, xiǎoqì, 小气, Chinese for stingy, Chinese for petty, ungenerous in Chinese, narrow-minded in Chinese, what does xiaoqi mean, Chinese adjective, HSK 4 vocabulary

Summary: Learn the full meaning of 小气 (xiǎoqì), a common and essential Chinese adjective. While it directly translates to “stingy” or “cheap,” its meaning goes deeper, also describing someone who is “petty,” “narrow-minded,” or “ungenerous” in spirit. This guide explores both its financial and character-related uses, providing cultural context and 10 practical example sentences to help you master this crucial term and avoid common mistakes.

Pinyin (with tone marks): xiǎoqì

Part of Speech: Adjective

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To be ungenerous, either with money (stingy) or in spirit (petty).

In a Nutshell: 小气 (xiǎoqì) describes a “smallness” of character. Think of it as someone having a “small spirit” or “small energy.” This can manifest as an unwillingness to spend money on others, but it also describes someone who gets easily offended, holds grudges over minor things, or lacks the capacity for forgiveness. It's a broad-ranging criticism of someone's lack of magnanimity.

小 (xiǎo): small, little, petty. This character is a pictogram of three small dots, representing something small or few.

气 (qì): air, gas, spirit, disposition, temper. This character originally depicted steam or vapor rising from cooking rice, representing energy or essence.

Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “small spirit” or “small air.” This beautifully captures the essence of the word: a person who is not expansive or generous in their disposition. Their capacity for giving—be it money, compliments, or forgiveness—is small.

In Chinese culture, generosity, or 大方 (dàfāng), is a highly prized social virtue. Treating friends to meals (请客 qǐngkè), giving thoughtful gifts, and being magnanimous in disagreements are ways to build and maintain relationships (关系 guānxi) and earn social standing (面子 miànzi).

Being labeled 小气 (xiǎoqì) is a significant social criticism. It implies you are not only cheap but also a difficult person who is not pleasant to be around. It can cause a person to lose face, especially in situations where generosity is expected, like on a date or at a business dinner.

Comparison to Western Culture: While “stingy” or “cheap” in English almost exclusively refers to money, 小气 (xiǎoqì) has a much broader scope. You could call someone 小气 for getting upset that you ate the last cookie, for not letting go of a small argument from last week, or for being a sore loser in a game. In English, you might say “Don't be so petty” or “You're holding a grudge,” but in Chinese, 小气 can cover all these situations. It's about a lack of generosity in all aspects of life, not just the financial ones.

小气 is a very common, informal adjective used to criticize someone's behavior. It is almost always negative and is used in casual conversation among friends, family, and colleagues.

Financial Stinginess: This is the most direct meaning. It's used to describe a friend who never offers to pay, a boss who is cheap with salaries or bonuses, or a company that cuts corners on quality to save a tiny amount of money.

Pettiness / Narrow-mindedness: This usage is equally common. It describes someone who can't take a joke, gets angry over trivial matters, or is unforgiving. If a friend stops talking to you because you were five minutes late, another friend might whisper, “他太小气了” (He's so petty).

大方 (dàfāng) - The direct antonym of `小气`. It means generous, magnanimous, and natural/poised. It is a high compliment.

抠门 (kōumén) - A more colloquial and vivid synonym for the “stingy” aspect of `小气`. It literally means “to pick at a door,” painting a picture of someone trying to save every last cent.

吝啬 (lìnsè) - A more formal, literary synonym for “stingy” or “miserly.” You would see this in writing more often than you would hear it in casual conversation.

节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - Frugal or thrifty. This is a related concept but with a positive connotation, unlike `小气`.

斤斤计较 (jīnjīn jìjiào) - An idiom meaning “to haggle over every last jin and tael (units of weight).” It describes the behavior of a `小气` person who is overly calculating about trivial matters.

气量 (qìliàng) - Magnanimity, tolerance, breadth of mind. A person who is `小气` is said to have small `气量 (qìliàng xiǎo)`.

面子 (miànzi) - “Face” or social standing. Being seen as `小气` can cause a person to lose `面子`.

请客 (qǐngkè) - The social act of treating someone to a meal or entertainment. The refusal to `请客` is a classic example of `小气` behavior.