吝
miserly, stingy, sparing
Strokes7
Readings
On'yomi
- リン
Kun'yomi
- しわ.い
- やぶさ.か
- おし.む
Meaning
吝 centers on an unwillingness to give or spend: being miserly, stingy, or sparing with resources.
Most common words using 吝
- 吝嗇ケチN3
stinginess; miserliness; penny-pinching; miser; pinchpenny; skinflint; cheapskate; tightwad; niggard
- 吝かやぶさか
reluctant; hesitant
- 倹吝けんりん
greedy and stingy
- 吝いしわい
stingy; cheap; very frugal
- 吝かでないやぶさかでない
ready (to do); willing
- 吝かではないやぶさかではない
ready (to do); willing
- 吝ん坊しわんぼう
miser
- 吝嗇りんしょく
stinginess; miserliness; parsimony
- 吝嗇家りんしょくか
miser
Study
Etymology
吝 is traditionally explained as 文 (pattern, writing) over 口 (mouth), suggesting words that are sparing or stingy. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A patterned 文 mouth 口 that speaks only sparingly, like a miser who hoards words as well as money.
Reading mnemonic
For リン, imagine a stingy person who won't even share a single lint ball: lint -> リン, and they cling to every tiny thing.