Word Meaning 爪に火をともす

つめにひをともす tsume ni hiotomosu

爪に火をともす is read as つめにひをともす (tsume ni hiotomosu) and means to lead a stingy life.

Meaning

English

  1. to lead a stingy life
  2. to scrimp and save
  3. to pinch pennies
  4. to light one's (finger)nails (instead of a candle)

Reading

Kana

つめにひをともす

Romaji

tsume ni hiotomosu

Writing Variants

  • つめに火をともす つめにひをともす tsumenihiotomosu
  • 爪に火を点す つめにひをともす tsume ni hi o tomosu
  • 爪に火を灯す つめにひをともす tsume ni hi o tomosu

Stroke Sequence

7 Characters • 21 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N3 Jōyō Upper Grade Kanken 2級 Proverb Rank 151193 Priority X

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

つめ

hook

爪先

つまさき

toes

爪切り

つめきり

nail clippers

爪楊枝

つまようじ

toothpick

放火

ほうか

arson

消火

しょうか

fire fighting

火薬

かやく

gunpowder

点火

てんか

ignition

活火山

かっかざん

active volcano

戦火

せんか

wartime fire

火種

ひだね

live coals (for firelighting)

飛び火

とびひ

impetigo contagiosa