Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
そろばん高い (そろばんだかい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
calculating ; miserly ; stingy
rare term
Rare term. Describes a person who is overly concerned with money, always counting costs like an abacus. Conveys a negative, petty attitude toward spending.
Traveling with a miserly person is exhausting because they split every bill down to the last yen.
Written forms そろばん 高だか い
Standard mixed kanji-kana spelling.
算盤そろばん 高だか い
Full kanji spelling; rare and may be unfamiliar to many readers.
Kanji 算 calculate, divining, number 盤 tray, shallow bowl, platter Similar words けち けち is a more common and direct word for 'stingy' or 'cheapskate'. そろばん高い is rarer and emphasizes a calculating, abacus-like approach to money.
計けい 算さん 高だか い 計算高い means 'calculating' in a broader sense, often about personal gain or strategy, not limited to money. そろばん高い is specifically about financial stinginess.
Etymology Compound of そろばん (abacus) + 高い (high, expensive). The image is of someone who is 'high on the abacus,' i.e., always calculating costs and reluctant to spend. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose as a figurative expression for extreme frugality.
