chi li

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• chi ly

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 支離 (“fragmented”).

The second sense is from "being meticulous with money".

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕi˧˧ li˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɪj˧˧ lɪj˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cɪj˧˧ lɪj˧˧]

Adjective

chi li

1. meticulous; particular; precise
2. (by extension) parsimonious; stingy