Small Stomach, Chicken Guts
"小肚鸡肠" (xiǎo dù jī cháng) is a Chinese idiom describing a person with a narrow and petty mind, one who is inclined to nitpick over trivial matters. This article explores the origins of this idiom, its message, and its relevance in modern society.
The Story
Long ago, there were two friends, Xiao Ming and Xiao Li. Xiao Ming was known for his generosity and a broad-minded nature. He was always willing to share his possessions and help others. In contrast, Xiao Li was quite 吝啬（lìn sè）miserly and constantly nitpicked over every detail. One day, they went on a picnic together. Xiao Ming brought delicious food and was eager to share, while Xiao Li brought only a few snacks and refused to share. This petty behavior caused Xiao Li to lose many friends, while Xiao Ming earned respect and admiration for his magnanimity.
吝啬（lìn sè），adj，miserly
He is miserly with his money and rarely spends on anything other than necessities.
他对金钱很吝啬，几乎只在必需品上花钱。
Tā duì jīnqián hěn lìn sè, jīhū zhǐ zài bìxūpǐn shàng huāqián.
Her miserly habits prevent her from enjoying life to the fullest.
她的吝啬习惯阻碍了她充分享受生活。
Tā de lìn sè xíguàn zǔ'ài le tā chōngfēn xiǎngshòu shēnghuó.
Inspiration
"小肚鸡肠" reminds us to avoid pettiness, a narrow-minded perspective, and a reluctance to share. It encourages qualities of generosity and an open heart. We should learn to be more tolerant and 慷慨（kāngkǎi）generous because this leads to greater happiness in our relationships and lives.
慷慨（kāngkǎi），adj，generous
She is always generous with her time.
她总是很慷慨地分配时间。
Tā zǒng shì hěn kāngkǎi de fēnpèi shíjiān.
My brother is always very generous with people.
我哥哥对人总是很慷慨。
Wǒ gēgē duì rén zǒng shì hěn kāngkǎi.
Meaning of the Idiom
"小肚鸡肠" describes a person who is overly concerned with trivial matters, possesses a narrow mind, and lacks generosity and tolerance.
Modern Application
The wisdom of "小肚鸡肠" is still valuable in modern society. It emphasizes the importance of generosity and the benefits of avoiding excessive nitpicking over trivial matters. In the workplace and at home, it reminds us to maintain healthy relationships and avoid unnecessary disputes over minor issues.
She is always petty and never willing to share her belongings.
她总是小肚鸡肠，从不愿意分享她的东西。
Tā zǒng shì xiǎo dù jī cháng, cóng bù yuànyì fēnxiǎng tā de dōngxī.
His pettiness led him into unnecessary conflicts at work.
他的小肚鸡肠让他在工作中陷入了不必要的纠纷。
Tā de xiǎo dù jī cháng ràng tā zài gōngzuò zhōng xiànrùle bù bìyào de jiūfēn.
Successful leaders are not petty and narrow-minded.
成功领导者不会小肚鸡肠。
Chénggōng lǐngdǎozhě bù huì xiǎo dù jī cháng.