miserly

IPA/ˈmaɪzəli/
KK[mˈaɪzɚli]IPA/ˈmaɪzərli/

miserly — 形容詞

  • miserlypositive
  • more miserlycomparative
  • most miserlysuperlative

1. unwilling to share money or things, even when you have plenty — used to criticis

1.形容詞C1
釋義

吝嗇；小氣

形容人不願花錢或分享，帶貶意

unwilling to share money or things, even when you have plenty — used to criticise someone for being mean about spending or giving.

例句

Jisoo's grandfather was so miserly that he reused tea bags four times.

Jisoo 的祖父非常吝嗇，連茶包都會重複泡四次。

predicative use after 'be': be + miserly

Ada refused to leave a tip, which the waiter found very miserly.

Ada 拒絕給小費，服務生覺得她非常小氣。

常見搭配
  • miserly with money
  • miserly with praise
  • miserly old man
  • miserly attitude
同義詞
  • stingy

    more informal everyday word for the same idea

  • tight-fisted

    informal; vivid image of a closed fist holding money

  • parsimonious

    very formal; often neutral rather than disapproving

反義詞

文法句型

miserly with [noun]

用法筆記

Strongly disapproving in tone; describes a person, attitude, or behaviour, not the money itself. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes the small AMOUNT that is given rather than the giver.

常見錯誤

The salary was miserly because the boss is mean.
The salary was miserly.' OR 'The boss was miserly with salaries.
keep the focus on either the amount (sense 2) or the person (sense 1), not both at once.

2. describes a sum, share, or quantity that is unfairly small — so small that the s

2.形容詞C1
釋義

微薄的

形容金額或份量小得令人不滿

describes a sum, share, or quantity that is unfairly small — so small that the speaker feels insulted or short-changed.

例句

After ten years of service, Darius received a miserly pay rise of just two percent.

服務滿十年後，Darius 只獲得微薄的百分之二調薪。

collocation: a miserly + [amount/percentage]

Sofia left the cafe annoyed by the miserly portion of cake on her plate.

Sofia 因為盤子裡那塊蛋糕份量少得可憐而氣得離開咖啡店。

常見搭配
  • a miserly sum
  • a miserly portion
  • a miserly pay rise
  • a miserly percentage
同義詞
  • paltry

    very close synonym; emphasises insultingly small

  • meagre

    neutral or slightly sad in tone, less indignant

  • derisory

    formal; suggests the amount is laughable

反義詞
  • generous

    of an amount: pleasingly large

  • lavish

    very large, even excessive

文法句型

a miserly + [amount]

用法筆記

Subject is typically an amount, sum, portion, share, or percentage — not a person. Distinguish from sense 1: in sense 2, the noun being modified IS the small quantity itself.

常見錯誤

He earned a miserly person.
He earned a miserly salary.
in this sense the noun must be an amount or quantity, not a person.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

  • notoriously miserly
  • famously miserly
  • downright miserly

常用片語

  • a miserly old man
  • a miserly pay rise
  • miserly with praise

介系詞搭配

  • miserly with
  • miserly towards