Practical guide
一毛不拔 (yī máo bù bá): Stinginess, Source Wording and Examples
一毛不拔 criticises extreme stinginess or selfishness. Learn the short Mencius citation as an attributed account, original Chinese examples and a context table distinguishing unwillingness to contribute from a stated lack of resources.
The modern expression is a strong criticism
一毛不拔 has the same simplified and traditional spelling. The dictionary reading is yī máo bù bá. The entry records its later use to criticise extreme stinginess or selfishness. [1]
“Extremely unwilling to part with anything” can be an explanatory paraphrase. The criticism is stronger than simply saying that one request was declined. A refusal alone may leave important circumstances unspecified.
Read the Mencius attribution within its scope
The appendix points to Mencius, Jin Xin Shang, quoting 楊子取為我，拔一毛而利天下不為也. This is the cited work’s account concerning Yang Zhu and the image of not parting with a hair even to benefit the world. [1]
An attributed account in Mencius is not the same evidence as a surviving statement written by Yang Zhu himself. Nor does this short quotation alone describe every aspect of his philosophy. For the present vocabulary task, distinguish the cited hair image from the entry’s later stinginess meaning.
Two original sentences supply different circumstances
These are invented language-learning situations.
小品里，他明明有多余的材料，却连一点也不愿分享，旁人便说他一毛不拔。
“In the sketch, he has surplus materials but refuses to share even a little, so another character calls him extremely stingy.” The fictional scene supplies available resources, refusal and who makes the criticism.
她已经说明手头没有可用的钱，不能只因这次没出钱就说她一毛不拔。
“She has explained that she has no money available; failing to contribute this time alone is not enough to call her extremely stingy.” The point is the stated limitation of the evidence, not a claim that every explanation of circumstances must be accepted without question.
The reason for a refusal matters
| Supplied circumstance | What the description supports | What remains separate |
|---|---|---|
| A fictional character has surplus materials and refuses to share any. | A stated context for another character’s stinginess criticism. | A universal diagnosis of every future action. |
| A person says no money is available for this request. | A stated resource limitation. | Whether they secretly possess other resources. |
| A request is declined; no reason is given. | The request was declined. | The motive and ability to contribute. |
| Someone contributes time instead of money, as the scene states. | A described non-monetary contribution. | A claim that they contributed nothing. |
A clear account names the request, the known circumstances and any contribution actually supplied. The idiom does not reveal motives that the account omits.
A borrowed favour is a different relationship
借花献佛 concerns a courteous gesture using another resource or kindness. 一毛不拔 concerns a stinginess judgment. Giving something borrowed does not by itself prove that someone refuses to share their own resources.
In a story, attribute a strong criticism to the character making it when that is what the narrative supplies. For a factual description, name the known action rather than presenting a private-motive judgment as if it were independently observed.
Choose what an unexplained refusal establishes
Original exercise: A fictional character declines a request. The scene supplies no information about available resources or motives. Which report is supported?
- “The request was declined; the reason is not supplied.”
- “The character is certainly extremely stingy in every situation.”
Check the refusal and missing context
Report 1. It states the known action and the missing reason. Report 2 extends beyond the scene. The critical expression 一毛不拔 is not evidence that fills those missing circumstances.
Sources and further reading
- Education Ministry Chengyu Dictionary revised-dictionary appendix: 一毛不拔Recorded lexical senses, spelling and pronunciation; original teaching examples and comparisons are provided in this guide.