けち

けち
noun / na-adjective
stingy, miser
1. stingy, miserly, cheap
Being unwilling to spend money; a person who is tight with money.
けちな(ひと)
A stingy person.
(かれ)はけちだ。
He is stingy.
そんなけちなことを()わないで、もう(すこ)()してよ。
Don't be so stingy—chip in a little more.
2. petty, trivial
Being small-minded or making a fuss over small things.
けちをつける。
To find fault with; to nitpick.
[Note: Fixed expression meaning to criticize]
(ひと)仕事(しごと)にけちをつけるのはやめてくれ。
Stop finding fault with other people's work.
せっかくの旅行(りょこう)にけちがついてしまった。
Our long-awaited trip was spoiled.
[Note: けちがつく = something goes wrong, bad luck attaches]

けち describes stinginess or pettiness.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • けちな(ひと) (stingy person)
  • けちをつける (to find fault, nitpick)
  • けちくさい (cheap-looking, petty)

USAGE:

  • As noun: (かれ)はけちだ
  • As na-adjective: けちな〜

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • けち: stingy (casual, slightly negative)
  • 倹約(けんやく): frugal (positive connotation)
  • 吝嗇(りんしょく): miserly (formal, literary)