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.
彼は本当にケチだ。
He is really stingy.
Don't say such stingy things.
An adjective meaning 'stingy' or 'cheap', often implying a petty or miserly attitude. Stronger than ケチ.
I'm disgusted by his stingy attitude.
A formal or literary term for 'stingy' or 'miserly'. Not used in everyday speech.
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.
He is being stingy with information.
Verb meaning 'to be stingy with' or 'to begrudge'. Often used with money, time, or effort.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He is stingy with money.
You must not be stingy with your efforts.
Don't do such petty things.