Translation guide
Describes someone who is unwilling to spend money or share resources, often in a petty way. Japanese has several common expressions ranging from mild to strong, with different nuances for money, food, and general selfishness.
Describing a person who hates spending money, even when they can afford it.
The most common and versatile word for 'stingy'. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective. Often used in casual conversation.
He is really stingy.
そんなケチなこと言わないで。
Don't say such stingy things.
An adjective meaning 'stingy' or 'cheap', often implying a petty or miserly attitude. Stronger than ケチ.
彼のけちくさい態度には呆れる。
I'm disgusted by his stingy attitude.
A formal or literary term for 'stingy' or 'miserly'. Not used in everyday speech.
彼は吝嗇家として知られている。
He is known as a miser.
Describing someone who is reluctant to share things like food, information, or credit.
Literally 'to be stingy with putting out'. Used when someone is reluctant to provide money, information, effort, etc.
彼は情報を出し惜しみしている。
He is being stingy with information.
Verb meaning 'to be stingy with' or 'to begrudge'. Often used with money, time, or effort.
彼はお金を惜しむ。
He is stingy with money.
努力を惜しんではいけない。
You must not be stingy with your efforts.
Slang meaning 'petty', 'cheap', or 'stingy'. Often used for small-minded or trivial stinginess.
Describing someone who serves small portions or is reluctant to share food.
Literally 'the amount is small'. A neutral way to say portions are stingy.
この店は量が少ないね。
This restaurant is stingy with portions, isn't it?
Emphatic form of ケチ, often used for being stingy in small, repeated ways, like doling out food sparingly.
彼は料理をケチケチと取り分けた。
He stingily portioned out the food.
Describing someone who accumulates money but refuses to spend it, even on necessities.
Literally 'money-guarding slave'. A strong, derogatory term for a miser.
彼はまるで守銭奴だ。
He is a complete miser.
ケチ means stingy in a negative sense, while 節約 means thrifty or economical in a positive sense. Be careful not to confuse them.
彼は節約家だが、ケチではない。
He is thrifty, but not stingy.
Avoid directly translating 'stingy' as けちんぼう or みみっちい in formal situations; they can sound childish or rude. Use ケチ or 出し惜しみする instead.
Don't do such petty things.