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铁公鸡

鐵公雞
tiěgōngjī
idiom #43,179

Measure Word

一个铁公鸡 gè

Meanings

  1. 1 a cheapskate
  2. 2 a miser
  3. 3 an iron rooster from which not a single feather can be plucked

Examples

他是有名的铁公鸡，一毛不拔。
Tā shì yǒumíng de tiěgōngjī, yī máo bù bá.
He's a famous cheapskate — wouldn't part with a single hair.
别指望他请客，那人是个铁公鸡。
Bié zhǐwàng tā qǐngkè, nà rén shì ge tiěgōngjī.
Don't expect him to pick up the tab — he's a complete tightwad.

Tips

memory
A rooster made of iron has feathers you literally can't pluck — image for a skinflint. Almost always pairs with 一毛不拔 ('not one hair will be pulled').

Stroke Order

铁 tiě
公 gōng
鸡 jī