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HSK 7-9
yī一onemáo毛hairbù不notbá拔pluck
Unwilling to give up even a hair; extremely stingy.

Literal meaning

one (一) — hair (毛) — not (不) — pluck (拔)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase describing extreme miserliness.

Examples

Tā他shì是ge个yī一máo毛bù不bá拔de的rén人,cóng从lái来bù不qǐng请kè客。
He is an extremely stingy person and never treats anyone.
Bié别zhǐ指wàng望tā他huì会juān捐kuǎn款,tā他kě可shì是ge个yī一máo毛bù不bá拔de的tiě铁gōng公jī鸡。
Don't expect him to donate; he's an extremely stingy person.

Usage & nuances

Used negatively to describe someone who is unwilling to spend money or give anything away.

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