This saying warns against buying items that will be used rarely or not at all. It encourages practical spending and avoiding waste, even when one can afford it. The focus is on utility over impulse.
Chinese consumer culture has historically emphasized practicality and value. This saying reflects a traditional disdain for ostentatious or wasteful purchases, a value that persists even in modern consumer society.
Chinese people use this saying to promote financial discipline and to caution against materialism. It signals that money should be used wisely and that owning things for status is less important than living a practical, well-managed life.
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