世せ知ち辛がらい

i-adjective

tough; hard; cold

Describes a world or times that are harsh, unkind, or difficult to live in. Often used in set phrases like 世知辛い世の中.

• 世せ知ち辛がらい世よの中なかだからこそ、助たすけ合あいが大たい切せつだ。

  Precisely because it's a tough world, mutual help is important.

• 最さい近きんは何なにをするにもお金かねがかかって、本ほん当とうに世せ知ち辛がらい。

  These days everything costs money; it's really hard.

i-adjective

stingy; miserly; calculating

Describes a person who is tight-fisted, money-grubbing, or always thinking about personal gain. Less common than sense 1.

• 彼かれは世せ知ち辛がらい男おとこで、友とも達だちにもおごったことがない。

  He's a stingy guy who has never even treated his friends.