petty / nitpicky
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nitpicky
Describing a person or their behavior when they pay excessive attention to unimportant details and judge mistakes harshly. This is often perceived as negative or pedantic.
Mein Chef ist so kleinlich, er korrigiert jeden Tippfehler in internen E-Mails.
My boss is so nitpicky; he corrects every typo in internal emails.
petty
Not generous; describing a person who is stingy or narrow-minded about small things.
Es ist ziemlich kleinlich, von deinen Freunden Geld für ein Glas Wasser zu verlangen.
It's pretty petty to ask your friends for money for a glass of water.
The word is derived from 'klein' (small). A 'kleinliche' (petty/nitpicky) person focuses excessively on small, unimportant things, whether details or amounts of money.
Wegen eines einzigen Fehlers so eine Szene zu machen, ist wirklich kleinlich.
Making such a scene over a single mistake is really petty.
The adjective is very often used as a reproach or as a request in the imperative. The expression 'Sei nicht so kleinlich!' (Don't be so petty!) is a typical everyday phrase.
Sei doch nicht so kleinlich und leih mir die zwei Euro!
Don't be so petty and lend me the two euros!
You can recognize this meaning from contexts involving rules, mistakes, and precision. It often has to do with work, corrections, or compliance with regulations.
Er ist ein sehr kleinlicher Vorgesetzter, der jeden Arbeitsschritt kontrolliert.
He is a very nitpicky supervisor who checks every step of the work.
In this meaning, it is about a lack of generosity, often in relation to money or sharing things. The context is usually a social or private situation.
Er ist zu kleinlich, um im Restaurant Trinkgeld zu geben.
He is too petty to leave a tip at the restaurant.
stingy
Both words can describe a negative attitude toward small expenses or sharing. Geizig generally means excessively frugal and strongly unwilling to spend money or share possessions, while kleinlich particularly emphasizes a lack of generosity in small matters. Choose “geizig” for general behavior and “kleinlich” for the specific occasion.
Er ist kleinlich, weil er wegen der kleinen Getränkekosten nicht mitbezahlen will.
He is being petty because he refuses to chip in for the small cost of the drinks.
Er ist so geizig, dass er selbst notwendige Ausgaben immer vermeiden will.
He is so stingy that he always tries to avoid even necessary expenses.
