Japanese word

ケチ

Pronunciation

Romajikechi

Meaning

  • na-adjectivestingy

Example

あの人はケチです。a no hito wa ke chi de su

That person is stingy.

Illustration for ケチ (stingy)

More examples

彼は必要な物まで買わないほどケチです。kare wa hitsu yō na mono ma de ka wa na i ho do ke chi de su

He is so stingy that he does not even buy things he needs.

Core concept

ケチ (kechi, "stingy") centers on holding back money or resources instead of readily sharing them.

Common phrases

  • ケチな人ke chi na hito

    a stingy person

  • ケチになるke chi ni na ru

    become stingy

Similar words

しみったれshimittare: Describes a person who is notably unwilling to spend money or give anything away.

Definition in Japanese

金品を出すことや人に分け与えることをひどく惜しむさま。kin pin o da su ko to ya hito ni wa ke ata e ru ko to o hi do ku o shi mu sa ma

Word origin

ケチ (kechi, "stingy") originally meant something unlucky or inauspicious, then came to describe something poor or shabby and finally a person who is reluctant to spend or share.

Usage tips

  • In casual Japanese, ケチ (kechi) can describe withholding small favors or information as well as refusing to spend money.

Other meanings

  • cheapskatenoun

Opposites

  • 太っ腹futopparagenerousna-adjective

Related words

  • ケチるkechiruskimpverb
  • ケチさkechisastinginessnoun

Word lists with this word