Although “frugality” and “stingy” both involve the concept of “saving resources”, there are obvious differences in the emotional color and semantic scope of the two, and they cannot be directly translated. The following is the specific analysis： **1. Semantic differences** -**Thrifty (Thrifty/Frugal)** Refers to the reasonable saving of resources and avoiding waste, which is a compliment. For example： “She lives frugally, but she is very generous when she meets people in need. ” -**Stingy (Stingy/Miserly)** Refers to excessive saving or even harming the interests of others, with a derogatory meaning. For example： “He can't even bear to buy medicine for his family, he's really stingy. ” **2. Emotional color opposition** -Frugality is a traditional virtue (such as “frugality to nourish virtue” advocated by Confucianism), emphasizing “use it when you use it, and save it when you save it.” -Stinginess is often associated with “selfishness” and “indifference” in the Chinese context (such as the classic description of "The History of Confucianism" that severely supervises students to miss the lamp oil before they die). **3. Translation suggestions** - If the original text is a positive description (such as environmental advocacy, financial advice), it must be translated as **thrifty/frugal** - Only use **stingy/miserly if the context contains criticism (such as unwillingness to share or harm the interests of others)** **Examples of mistranslations** Translating “the frugal habits of the older generation are worth learning” as “the stingy habits of the older generation are worth learning” will have the exact opposite semantic effect. **Expand thinking** Similar differences in Chinese synonyms are： -Self-confidence (praise) vs. conceit (derogatory) - Persistence (praise) vs stubbornness (derogatory) When translating, special attention should be paid to the implied evaluation of vocabulary.