爱财如命 (Ài cái rú mìng)

Basic Info

• Chinese Idiom: 爱财如命 (Ài cái rú mìng)
• Pinyin: ài cái rú mìng
• Literal meaning: “To love money as one loves one’s life.”
  (爱 = here, to cherish / begrudge parting with; 财 = wealth / money; 如 = like / as; 命 = life)

Figurative Definition

It describes a person who is extremely greedy and miserly – someone who values money as much as life itself and is unwilling to spend or part with it. The idiom is strongly negative: it criticizes avarice, stinginess, and putting wealth above everything else, including generosity, relationships, and moral principle.

Cultural & Historical Origin

This idiom comes from the Ming Dynasty play Si Xi Ji (《四喜记》), in the scene “The Song Dynasty Wedding” (《大宋毕姻》), by Xie Dang (谢谠).

The original line is spoken by a matchmaker named Gao (高媒婆), who describes herself:

“既称月老，又号冰人，爱财如命，说谎通神，自家高媒婆是也。”

“I am called a matchmaker and known as a go-between; I love money as I love my life, and my lies are almost divine – I am none other than Matchmaker Gao.”

The self-mocking description made the phrase vivid and memorable, and “爱财如命” became a common idiom for greed and miserliness.

Key Lesson

Money should serve life – not replace it. A person who loves money as much as life will sacrifice health, relationships, honesty, and peace of mind for wealth. The idiom warns against letting greed shrink your world. Thrift is a virtue; miserliness and greed are not. True wealth includes generosity, integrity, and human connection.

Cultural Note

Chinese culture generally values thrift and careful management of money, but it sharply distinguishes thrift from greed and miserliness. “爱财如命” is a criticism, not a compliment. A related term is “守财奴” (shǒu cái nú – “miser / slave to money”). The idiom is often used humorously or sarcastically in everyday speech about someone who refuses to spend even when necessary.

Similar English Expressions

• To love money more than life – The closest literal equivalent.
• Money-grubbing – Excessively eager to make money.
• Miserly / A miser – Extremely unwilling to spend money.
• Tight-fisted / Tightfisted – Very stingy.
• Penny-pinching – Overly careful with small amounts of money.
• A skinflint – A very stingy person.
• To worship Mammon – To treat wealth as a god; to be devoted to money.
• To be all about the money – Informal: caring only about profit.

The closest natural equivalents are “to love money more than life,” “money-grubbing,” and “miserly.”

In short, “爱财如命” means loving money as if it were life itself – a sharp criticism of greed and miserliness, and a reminder that wealth should serve a good life, not become one.