けち

See also: げち

Japanese

Alternative spelling
吝嗇 (uncommon)

Etymology

Shift from 怪事 (keji, “unfortunate event”). Used in the Edo period to mean "a shabby, lowborn individual" before taking on the current sense.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ke̞t͡ɕi]

Noun

けち or ケチ • (kechi) 

1. miser
2. miserliness; stinginess

Adjective

けち • (kechi) -na (adnominal けちな (kechi na), adverbial けちに (kechi ni))

1. stingy, miserly

   けちなおやじ ― kechi na oyaji ― a stingy old man