Keywords: 铁公鸡, tiegongji, tie gong ji, Chinese for stingy, Chinese slang for cheap, iron rooster meaning, penny-pincher in Chinese, Chinese tightwad, 一毛不拔, what is a tiegongji
Summary: Discover the meaning of 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī), a vivid and popular Chinese slang term for a very stingy person or a “tightwad”. Literally translating to “iron rooster”, this term paints a humorous picture of someone so cheap that you couldn't pluck a single feather from them. This guide breaks down its cultural origins, modern usage, and provides practical examples to help you understand one of China's most descriptive insults for a penny-pincher.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tiě gōng jī
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: N/A
Concise Definition: A metaphor for a very stingy, miserly person from whom it is impossible to extract anything of value.
In a Nutshell: Imagine trying to pluck a feather from a rooster made of solid iron—it's impossible. That's the feeling behind 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī). It's a humorous yet critical term for someone who is extremely unwilling to spend money, especially on others. It implies a level of stinginess that goes beyond simple frugality and becomes a social flaw.
Character Breakdown
铁 (tiě): Iron or metal. It signifies something hard, unyielding, and impenetrable.
公 (gōng): Male, public. Here it specifies the type of chicken.
鸡 (jī): Chicken or rooster.
The characters combine to create a powerful visual metaphor. A normal rooster (`公鸡`) can have its feathers plucked, but an iron rooster (`铁公鸡`) is impossible to get anything from. The money of a `铁公鸡` is as tightly held as the “feathers” on this imaginary iron bird.
Cultural Context and Significance
The term 铁公鸡 (tiěgōngjī) is a shorthand for the longer idiom `铁公鸡——一毛不拔 (tiě gōng jī, yī máo bù bá)`, which means “an iron rooster—not a single feather can be plucked.” The phrase `一毛不拔` (literally “not pull one hair/feather”) is an ancient chengyu describing extreme selfishness.
Cultural Comparison: In Western culture, we might call someone a “Scrooge,” a “tightwad,” or a “penny-pincher.” While similar, 铁公鸡 is more visually graphic and widely used in casual, everyday speech. “Scrooge” has literary origins and feels a bit more formal or archetypal. 铁公鸡 is the kind of term friends would use to tease someone who never wants to split a dinner bill.
Social Values: Chinese culture often places a high value on generosity (`大方 dàfang`) and hospitality, especially among friends and colleagues. The act of treating others to meals (`请客 qǐngkè`) is a cornerstone of building and maintaining relationships (`关系 guānxi`). Being labeled a 铁公鸡 is a strong social criticism because it means a person is failing to fulfill these basic social expectations of reciprocity and generosity.
Practical Usage in Modern China
铁公鸡 is highly informal and is used in conversations among peers, friends, and family. It carries a negative and often teasing or complaining tone. You would never use it in a formal business meeting or to describe someone you want to show respect to.
It's often used to describe someone's general character or their behavior in a specific situation where they were expected to spend money but refused.
For example, it's perfect for complaining about a friend who never pays their share, a boss who refuses to give bonuses, or a relative who is notoriously cheap with gifts.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
别指望老板请客，他可是个有名的铁公鸡。
Pinyin: Bié zhǐwàng lǎobǎn qǐngkè, tā kěshì ge yǒumíng de tiěgōngjī.
English: Don't expect the boss to treat us; he's a famous penny-pincher.
Analysis: This is a typical complaint among colleagues. Using 铁公鸡 here expresses a shared frustration in a colloquial, informal way.
Example 2:
每次聚会他都从不付钱，真是个铁公鸡。
Pinyin: Měi cì jùhuì tā dōu cóngbù fùqián, zhēnshì ge tiěgōngjī.
English: He never pays at any of our gatherings, what a tightwad.
Analysis: This sentence describes a pattern of behavior, using 铁公鸡 as a label to summarize the person's character in social situations.
English: My boyfriend isn't cheap, he's just frugal; that's different from being a penny-pincher.
Analysis: This example is excellent for learners as it directly contrasts 铁公鸡 (a negative trait) with being frugal (`节俭 jiéjiǎn`), which is seen as a more neutral or even positive quality.
Example 4:
想从他那儿借钱？你以为他不是铁公鸡吗？
Pinyin: Xiǎng cóng tā nàr jièqián? Nǐ yǐwéi tā búshì tiěgōngjī ma?
English: You want to borrow money from him? Did you think he wasn't a total cheapskate?
Analysis: This is a rhetorical question used to emphasize how impossible a task is due to the person's stinginess.
Example 5:
他对自己都那么抠门，真是个铁公鸡。
Pinyin: Tā duì zìjǐ dōu nàme kōumén, zhēnshì ge tiěgōngjī.
English: He's even stingy with himself, what an iron rooster.
Analysis: This highlights the extremity of the stinginess. The person isn't just cheap with others, but also with themselves, using the related slang `抠门 (kōumén)`.
Example 6:
我们公司发福利的时候，你就能看出谁是铁公鸡了。
Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī fā fúlì de shíhou, nǐ jiù néng kànchū shéi shì tiěgōngjī le.
English: When our company gives out benefits, you can really see who the tightwads are.
Analysis: This sentence implies that a 铁公鸡 boss or company would be ungenerous with employee bonuses or perks.
Example 7:
让他捐款比让铁公鸡拔毛还难。
Pinyin: Ràng tā juānkuǎn bǐ ràng tiěgōngjī bámáo hái nán.
English: Getting him to donate money is harder than plucking a feather from an iron rooster.
Analysis: This sentence creatively uses the full metaphorical meaning of the phrase, comparing the difficulty of one task to the impossible nature of the other.
English: You can't always be a cheapskate; you should treat your friends to a meal once in a while.
Analysis: This is a piece of direct, informal advice given to a friend, pointing out their flaw and suggesting a corrective action (`请客`).
Example 9:
为了省几块钱，他宁愿走一个小时，这个铁公鸡！
Pinyin: Wèile shěng jǐ kuài qián, tā nìngyuàn zǒu yí ge xiǎoshí, zhège tiěgōngjī!
English: To save a few bucks, he'd rather walk for an hour, what a penny-pincher!
Analysis: This is an exclamation of exasperation, highlighting a specific action that reveals the person's `铁公鸡` nature.
Example 10:
他是不是铁公鸡我不知道，但他对家人很大方。
Pinyin: Tā shìbushì tiěgōngjī wǒ bù zhīdào, dànshì tā duì jiārén hěn dàfang.
English: I don't know if he's a penny-pincher or not, but he is very generous with his family.
Analysis: This shows a nuanced situation. Someone might be a 铁公鸡 with friends or strangers but generous (`大方 dàfang`) with family, showing that the label can be context-dependent.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Noun, not an Adjective: A common mistake is to use 铁公鸡 like an adjective. For example, `他很铁公鸡 (tā hěn tiěgōngjī)` is incorrect. You must use it as a noun.
Correct: 他是(一个)铁公鸡。 (Tā shì (yí ge) tiěgōngjī.) - He is a penny-pincher.
Incorrect: ~~他很铁公鸡。~~
Frugal vs. Stingy:铁公鸡 is not a compliment. It should not be confused with `节俭 (jiéjiǎn)`, which means “frugal” or “thrifty” and is generally considered a virtue. A `节俭` person saves their own money wisely. A 铁公鸡 is someone who refuses to spend money on others, even when it is socially expected, thus appearing selfish.
Connotation: The term is almost always negative, but it can range from light-hearted teasing among close friends to a serious criticism of someone's character. The tone of voice and context are crucial.
Related Terms and Concepts
一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá) - The full idiom from which 铁公鸡 is derived. It means “unwilling to pull out a single hair,” describing extreme stinginess.
吝啬 (lìnsè) - A more formal, two-character adjective for “stingy” or “miserly.” You would see this in writing.
小气 (xiǎoqì) - A very common, colloquial adjective for “stingy” or “petty.” It's less graphic than 铁公鸡 but used very frequently.
抠门 (kōumén) - A popular, vivid slang verb/adjective meaning “stingy.” Literally “to pick at a door,” it implies trying to save every last cent. Often used interchangeably with 小气.
节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - The positive antonym in spirit. An adjective meaning “frugal” or “thrifty,” which is considered a virtue.
大方 (dàfang) - The direct antonym. An adjective meaning “generous.” Someone who is the opposite of a 铁公鸡 is very `大方`.
请客 (qǐngkè) - The social act of “treating someone” to a meal or drink. A 铁公鸡 famously avoids having to `请客`.