Word

节衣缩食 (jié yī suō shí) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 节衣缩食

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

live frugally

为了供孩子上大学，父母节衣缩食多年。

wèi le gōng hái zi shàng dà xué fù mǔ jié yī suō shí duō nián

In order to support their child through university, the parents lived frugally for many years.

Word breakdown

节 jié — economize, reduce

衣 yī — clothing

缩 suō — reduce, cut back

食 shí — food

Structure & writing

1 节 jié — joint; node between segments of an object

节 is not used as a component in any other character.

节 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 衣 yī — clothing; garment

衣 is a component in 15 characters

HSK 2

表 biǎo exterior, outside (opposite of 'inside'); ① outward, external ② outer appearance

HSK 4

袋 dài bag, sack, or pocket made of cloth, leather, etc. 装 zhuāng to decorate; to dress up; to disguise

HSK 5

依 yī to lean on; to rely on, to depend on 滚 gǔn to roll; to tumble 裁 cái to arrange and select (mostly used in literary arts) 裹 guǒ to wrap; to bind (with paper, cloth, or other sheet material)

HSK 6

衰 shuāi to decline, to weaken

HSK 7

哀 āi sorrowful; grieved 衷 zhōng inner heart; innermost feelings 袭 xí to raid; to attack by surprise 裂 liè to crack, to split open 裔 yì descendants, offspring

Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)

裳 shang clothing; used in "衣裳" 褒 bāo to praise, to commend (opposite of 贬)

衣 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

3 缩 suō — to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer

缩 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

3.1 纟 sī — silk/thread radical

纟 is a component in 67 characters

HSK 1

给 gěi to give; to hand over to someone

HSK 2

红 hóng red (color like fresh blood) 绍 shào to continue, to carry on 绿 lǜ green (color, like flourishing grass and leaves, mixed from blue and yellow)

HSK 3

级 jí rank; grade; level 纸 zhǐ paper, usually made from plant fibers 练 liàn (lit.) white processed silk 终 zhōng end result; conclusion (opposite of 始) 结 jié to tie a knot in rope, thread, or strip of cloth; to weave by knotting

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绩 jì to twist hemp fibers into thread

HSK 4

约 yuē to propose or discuss (something mutually binding) 纪 jì rules; regulations; discipline 线 xiàn thread; yarn made of silk, cotton, hemp, etc., used for sewing or knitting 组 zǔ to combine, to form 细 xì thin (of a rod-like object, opposite of 粗)

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绝 jué to sever; to cut off 续 xù to connect; to continue

HSK 5

纷 fēn numerous and disorderly 织 zhī to weave (cloth or garments from silk, hemp, cotton, wool, etc.) 绕 rào to wind around; to coil around 络 luò something resembling a net 统 tǒng in total; all together; entirely

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绪 xù the beginning or starting point of something (originally the end of a silk thread) 维 wéi to connect; to tie 综 zōng to summarize; to bring together 缓 huǎn slow; unhurried (opposite of 急) 缩 suō to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer

HSK 6

纠 jiū to entangle; to twist around 纯 chún pure; free from impurities 纳 nà to take in; to bring in 绒 róng soft, fine hair or down 绘 huì to draw or paint (a picture)

Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)

编 biān to weave or braid (with strips or strands)

HSK 7

纤 xiān slender; delicate; fine 纬 wěi weft; horizontal threads in woven fabric (opposite of 经) 纱 shā yarn spun from cotton, hemp, etc., used to twist into thread or weave into cloth 纲 gāng the main rope of a fishing net; the key or essential part of something (often referring to documents or speeches) 纵 zòng north-south in direction (opposite of '横')

Show more HSK 7 characters (+29)

纹 wén pattern or design on silk fabric; decorative pattern or texture in general 纺 fǎng to spin (cotton, hemp, silk, wool, etc. into yarn or thread) 纽 niǔ handle or loop on an object for lifting or hanging 绅 shēn wide sash worn over the outer garment by ancient scholar-officials 绊 bàn to trip or entangle, impeding movement; to tie someone down so they cannot get away 绑 bǎng to tie up; to bind with rope or cord 绞 jiǎo to twist two or more strands together; to entangle 绣 xiù to embroider (patterns or characters onto fabric using colored thread) 绯 fēi crimson; scarlet 绰 chuò (lit.) ample; spacious; having plenty to spare 绳 shéng rope; cord (twisted from two or more strands of cotton, hemp, palm fibre, grass, etc.) 绵 mián silk floss; raw silk wadding used for padding clothing and quilts 绷 bēng to pull taut; to stretch tight 绸 chóu silk fabric; thin and soft silk textile 绽 zhàn to split open; to burst 缀 zhuì to sew together; to stitch 缅 miǎn distant; far away 缆 lǎn thick rope or iron chain for mooring a ship; heavy cable made of twisted strands 缉 jī to search for; to pursue and arrest 缔 dì to conclude; to establish (a treaty or agreement) 缕 lǚ thread; strand 缘 yuán reason; cause 缚 fù to bind; to tie up 缝 féng to sew; to stitch together with needle and thread 缠 chán to wind around, to wrap around 缤 bīn abundant and varied (as in "缤纷") 缴 jiǎo to hand in or pay (especially when fulfilling an obligation or under compulsion) 蕴 yùn (lit.) to contain; to accumulate 辫 biàn braid; plait of hair woven from divided strands

3.2 宿 sù — to lodge; to spend the night; to sleep overnight

宿 is a component in 1 characters

HSK 5

缩 suō to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer

Stroke order

4 食 shí — to eat

食 is a component in 1 characters

HSK 4

餐 cān to eat (a meal)

consists of

4.1 人 rén — human being; a higher animal that makes and uses tools

人 is a component in 18 characters

HSK 1

会 huì to gather; to come together 茶 chá tea plant (evergreen shrub with oblong leaves, white flowers, and hard-shelled seeds; young leaves are processed into tea leaves) 认 rèn to recognize; to distinguish

HSK 2

从 cóng (lit.) to follow

HSK 3

合 hé to close; to shut; to bring together (opposite of 开)

HSK 4

众 zhòng many; numerous (opposite of "寡") 内 nèi inside; interior (opposite of "外") 队 duì line; column; procession 食 shí to eat

HSK 5

企 qǐ to stand on tiptoe 珍 zhēn treasure; precious thing 舍 shě to give up; to abandon 齿 chǐ tooth; the organ for chewing food in the mouths of humans and some animals

HSK 6

仓 cāng warehouse, storehouse for grain or other goods 闪 shǎn to dodge aside quickly

HSK 7

囚 qiú to imprison; to incarcerate 淤 yū to silt up; to become clogged with sediment 禽 qín general term for birds

4.2 良 liáng — good; excellent

良 is a component in 9 characters

HSK 4

娘 niáng (colloq.) mother 浪 làng wave; billow on rivers, lakes, or seas 食 shí to eat

HSK 5

粮 liáng grain; food crops (cereals, legumes, tubers, etc.) 郎 láng ancient official title

HSK 6

朗 lǎng bright, well-lit 狼 láng wolf (a carnivorous mammal resembling a dog, with a long face, erect ears, yellowish or grayish-brown fur, and a drooping tail; nocturnal and fierce)

HSK 7

嚼 jiáo to chew; to masticate 酿 niàng to brew or ferment (using fermentation)

Stroke order

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Meaning of 节衣缩食

节 jié — economize, reduce

衣 yī — clothing

缩 suō — reduce, cut back

食 shí — food