# 一毛不拔

yī máo bù bá

Extremely unwilling to spend or contribute

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Unwilling to pull out even one hair

**Register:** Critical · conversational

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Use to criticize someone who refuses even a small contribution despite having the means.

It is insulting; declining an unreasonable request does not necessarily make someone stingy.

## Understanding the expression

The tiny hair makes the refusal seem disproportionate: the person will not part with even something negligible. Modern uses usually concern stinginess with money, though effort and assistance may also be involved. The phrase carries a strong negative judgment. Distinguish protecting a limited budget from refusing every reasonable contribution while expecting others to provide everything. It often appears when others are sharing a reasonable cost.

## Examples

大家凑钱修椅子，他却一毛不拔。

### Traditional Chinese

大家湊錢修椅子，他卻一毛不拔。

dà jiā còu qián xiū yǐ zi ， tā què yī máo bù bá 。

Everyone contributed to repairing the chairs, but he refused to give anything.

他对自己很大方，对朋友却一毛不拔。

### Traditional Chinese

他對自己很大方，對朋友卻一毛不拔。

tā duì zì jǐ hěn dà fāng ， duì péng yǒu què yī máo bù bá 。

He spends generously on himself but refuses to spend anything on his friends.

那位老板一毛不拔，连必要的安全设备都不肯买。

### Traditional Chinese

那位老闆一毛不拔，連必要的安全設備都不肯買。

nà wèi lǎo bǎn yī máo bù bá ， lián bì yào de ān quán shè bèi dōu bù kěn mǎi 。

The boss is so stingy that he will not even buy necessary safety equipment.

她担心被人说一毛不拔，其实只是暂时没有余钱。

### Traditional Chinese

她擔心被人說一毛不拔，其實只是暫時沒有餘錢。

tā dān xīn bèi rén shuō yī máo bù bá ， qí shí zhǐ shì zàn shí méi yǒu yú qián 。

She worries people will call her stingy, though she simply has no spare money at present.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%80%E6%AF%9B%E4%B8%8D%E6%8B%94)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1&webMd=1&la=0)

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