セコい

• 読み: セコい
• ローマ字: sekoi
• 発音: /se.ko.i/

意味

Cheap, petty, or stingy — describes behaviour that is small-minded or dishonestly frugal in a way that invites contempt.

セコい goes beyond mere stinginess to describe behaviour that is sneaky, petty, or underhanded in its cheapness. Someone who is セコい might cheat on a group bill, exploit a loophole for tiny gains, or brag about cutting corners. Unlike ケチ (simply stingy), セコい implies a moral judgement — the person is not just cheap but pathetically so. It can also describe petty strategies in games or competition.

例文

1. ポイントのためだけにわざわざ遠い店行くのセコくない？
2. セコいやり方で勝っても嬉しくないでしょ。
3. セコい節約自慢されても反応に困る。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, casual conversation, social media, gaming

トーン: contemptuous, mocking

正しい言い方

• それはちょっとセコくない？ (Isn't that a bit cheap?)
• セコい手使うなよ、正々堂々やれ。 (Don't use cheap tricks — play fair.)

避ける言い方

• 節約を頑張ってる人に「セコい」は傷つく (Saying 'sekoi' to someone working hard to save money is hurtful)

よくある間違い

• Confusing セコい with ケチ — セコい implies moral pettiness, not just reluctance to spend
• Using セコい for legitimate money-saving — it specifically criticises sneaky or petty cheapness

起源と歴史

Origins debated, possibly from 世故い (sekoi, worldly-wise in a cunning way). The modern meaning of 'cheaply petty' became widespread in casual speech from the 1990s onward.

文化的背景

時代: 1990s onward

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal informal

地域メモ: Used nationwide. Common in both everyday conversation and gaming/competitive contexts.