The Vietnamese word "tiết kiệm" is a verb that means to economize or to practice thrift. It refers to the act of using resources, especially money, in a careful and efficient way to avoid waste.
You can use "tiết kiệm" when talking about saving money, time, or any resources. It can be applied to various contexts such as personal finance, energy conservation, or even time management.
Tôi cố gắng tiết kiệm tiền mỗi tháng để mua một chiếc xe mới.
(I try to economize money every month to buy a new car.)
Chúng ta cần tiết kiệm điện trong mùa hè này.
(We need to save electricity this summer.)
In more advanced contexts, "tiết kiệm" can also imply strategic planning or making conscious choices to reduce consumption. For example:
Noun form: sự tiết kiệm - This means "the act of saving" or "thriftiness."
Adjective form: tiết kiệm can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is economical.
While "tiết kiệm" primarily relates to saving resources, in different contexts, it can also imply being careful with one’s choices and decisions, ensuring that excess is avoided.