shǔ​mǐ'ér​chuī

to count grains of rice before cooking

Senses

数米而炊/ 數米而炊 shǔ​mǐ'ér​chuī to count grains of rice before cooking

to fuss over petty details or perform tedious, pointless busywork

数米而炊/ 數米而炊 shǔ​mǐ'ér​chuī miserly; impoverished

to be extremely stingy or to live in such dire poverty that one must account for every grain of rice

References

see 数米而炊/數米而炊 锱铢必较/錙銖必較
see 数米而炊/數米而炊 斤斤计较/斤斤計較