The Vietnamese word "tằn tiện" means to be very frugal or thrifty. It describes someone who is extremely careful with their money and resources, often to the point of being overly cautious or stingy.
In advanced contexts, "tằn tiện" can be used to discuss budgeting strategies or different cultural attitudes toward money management. For instance, in a discussion about personal finance, you might say, "Trong văn hóa phương Tây, người ta có thể xem sự tằn tiện là điều tích cực, nhưng trong văn hóa Việt Nam, đôi khi nó bị xem là quá mức."
While "tằn tiện" primarily relates to frugality, it can also imply a negative connotation when it suggests being miserly or cheap.