勤俭 (qín jiǎn) is a compound adjective meaning 'diligent and thrifty' — combining 勤 (diligence, hard work, conscientiousness) and 俭 (frugality, thriftiness, economical use of resources). Together, they describe a virtuous personal quality highly valued in Chinese culture: working diligently while avoiding waste and managing resources wisely. It reflects Confucian ideals of self-cultivation and social responsibility, often associated with family management, personal conduct, and national development.

This term commonly appears in moral education, family advice, public campaigns promoting sustainability, and descriptions of role models — especially elders or exemplary citizens. Though it functions as a single descriptive unit, 勤俭 is not typically used predicatively without a copula (e.g., you’d say 他很勤俭, not *他勤俭); it’s more natural attributively (e.g., 勤俭的作风) or in set phrases like 勤俭持家 (to manage the household diligently and frugally).