打小算盘 dǎ xiǎo suàn pán

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly
  2. concerned with petty interests
  3. selfish and uncaring of the interests of others
  4. bean counter

CHARACTERS

打 dǎ
HSK 1
strike, hit, beat; fight; attack
小 xiǎo
HSK 1
small, tiny, insignificant
算 suàn
HSK 3
count, calculate, figure; plan
盘 pán
HSK 3
tray, plate, dish; examine