勒緊褲頭
Chinese
editstrangle; rein in | tight; nervous; strict | underpants; undershorts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (勒緊褲頭) | 勒 | 緊 | 褲頭 | |
simp. (勒紧裤头) | 勒 | 紧 | 裤头 |
Alternative forms
editEtymology
editLiterally "tightly fasten the waistband/belt of the trousers", an implication of significant underweight and consequently very low waist circumference. This is a figurative way to express someone's state of being financially poor, regardless if the individual is actually underweight as a result of poverty.
Pronunciation
edit- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin:
- Zhuyin: ㄌㄟ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄎㄨˋ ㄊㄡˊ
- Tongyong Pinyin: lei jǐn kùtóu
- Wade–Giles: lei1 chin3 kʻu4-tʻou2
- Yale: lēi jǐn kù-tóu
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: lhei jiin kuhtour
- Palladius: лэй цзинь кутоу (lɛj czinʹ kutou)
- Sinological IPA (key): /leɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese)+
Idiom
edit勒緊褲頭
- financial austerity; cost-cutting; consequence or measure of being financially poor
Usage notes
edit- This idiom is rarely used literally to express an individual's skinny physique without the implication of poor financial prosperity.