Usage note
表示少用东西，把资源留到以后用。
biǎo shì shǎo yòng dōng xī, bǎ zī yuán liú dào yǐ hòu yòng.
It means to use less and keep resources for later.
Context note
常说节约用水、节约用电。
cháng shuō jié yuē yòng shuǐ, jié yuē yòng diàn.
It is often used in phrases like saving water and saving electricity.
5 examples
我们要节约用水。
wǒ men yào jié yuē yòng shuǐ。
We should save water.
妈妈教我节约粮食。
mā ma jiào wǒ jié yuē liáng shí。
My mom teaches me to save food.
他会节约零花钱。
tā huì jié yuē líng huā qián。
He knows how to save pocket money.
大家一起节约纸张。
dà jiā yì qǐ jié yuē zhǐ zhāng。
Everyone saves paper together.
我们要节约电。
wǒ men yào jié yuē diàn。
We should save electricity.
5 mini stories
我们要节约用水。洗手后把水龙头关好。
wǒ men yào jié yuē yòng shuǐ。 xǐ shǒu hòu bǎ shuǐ lóng tóu guān hǎo。
We should save water. After washing hands, turn off the tap.
妈妈教我节约粮食。吃多少盛多少。
mā ma jiào wǒ jié yuē liáng shí。 chī duō shǎo shèng duō shǎo。
My mom teaches me to save food. Take only as much as you can eat.
他会节约零花钱。这样可以买书。
tā huì jié yuē líng huā qián。 zhè yàng kě yǐ mǎi shū。
He knows how to save pocket money. Then he can buy books.
大家一起节约纸张。正反面都可以写。
dà jiā yì qǐ jié yuē zhǐ zhāng。 zhèng fǎn miàn dōu kě yǐ xiě。
Everyone saves paper together. You can write on both sides.
我们要节约电。晚上早点关灯。
wǒ men yào jié yuē diàn。 wǎn shàng zǎo diǎn guān dēng。
We should save electricity. Turn off the lights early at night.
Mini dialogue
节约用水
A
我们为什么要节约用水？
Wǒmen wèishénme yào jiéyuē yòng shuǐ?
Why should we save water?
B
节约用水可以保护环境。
Jiéyuē yòng shuǐ kěyǐ bǎohù huánjìng.
Saving water can protect the environment.
节约粮食
A
吃饭时不要浪费。
Chīfàn shí bùyào làngfèi.
Don't waste food when eating.
B
我知道，要节约粮食。
Wǒ zhīdào, yào jiéyuē liángshi.
I know, we must save food.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
浪费
làng fèi
to waste
节约 is to save, 浪费 is to waste. They are common opposites.
similar
节省
jié shěng
to save; to economize
节省 is very close to 节约, often used for saving money or time.
related
保护
bǎo hù
to protect
节约 resources helps 保护 the environment.