ドケチ

• Reading: ドケチ
• Romaji: dokechi
• Kanji breakdown: ド (intensifier prefix, 'ultra/extreme') + ケチ (stingy/cheap) → extremely stingy
• Pronunciation: /do.ke.tɕi/

Meaning

Super stingy or extremely tight-fisted — an emphatic insult for someone who is unreasonably cheap with money.

ドケチ combines the intensifier prefix ド (extreme) with ケチ (stingy) to create an amplified version meaning 'ridiculously cheap.' It goes beyond ordinary frugality into the territory of being embarrassingly unwilling to spend money, even when the situation clearly calls for it. Common complaints include splitting bills to the exact yen, never treating anyone, and always choosing the cheapest option regardless of quality.

Examples

1. 割り勘で1円単位まで計算するとかドケチすぎ。 Calculating the bill down to the last yen? That's ridiculously cheap.
2. 彼氏がドケチでデート代いつも私持ち。 My boyfriend is so stingy that I always end up paying for dates.
3. あの社長ドケチで有名だから、ボーナス期待するな。 That CEO is famously cheap, so don't get your hopes up for a bonus.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, casual conversation, gossip

Tone: contemptuous, exasperated

Do Say

• あの人ドケチだから、おごりは期待しないほうがいい。 (That person is super stingy, so don't expect them to treat.)
• ドケチって言われたくなかったら、たまには出しなよ。 (If you don't want to be called a cheapskate, pay up once in a while.)

Don't Say

• 節約してる人に「ドケチ」は失礼 — 本当にお金に困ってる可能性もある (Calling someone saving money 'dokechi' is rude — they might genuinely be struggling financially)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing ドケチ with ケチ — ドケチ is significantly stronger and more insulting
• Using ドケチ to describe yourself as a humble-brag — it is purely negative

Origin & History

Combination of the intensifier prefix ド (extreme, as in ド真ん中, ド素人) and ケチ (stingy/cheap). ケチ itself has been in use for centuries; the ド prefix adds casual emphasis.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-standing expression

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used nationwide. The ド prefix pattern is productive in Japanese (ドアホ, ド下手, etc.).