せこい

• Reading: せこい
• Romaji: sekoi
• Pronunciation: /se.ko.i/

Meaning

Cheap, stingy, or petty — describes someone who penny-pinches, cuts corners, or plays unfairly for small gains.

せこい goes beyond simple stinginess — it captures the pettiness of someone who obsesses over tiny advantages or savings at the expense of dignity or fairness. A person who splits a bill down to the last yen, sneaks extra samples, or bends rules for minor gains is せこい. It can also describe cheap tactics in games or competitions. The word always carries a judgemental tone.

Examples

1. 割り勘で一円単位まで計算するのせこくない？ Isn't it kind of cheap to calculate the bill split down to the last penny?
2. そんなせこいことするなよ、ケチくさいな。 Don't pull that kind of petty stuff, man — it's tacky.
3. ポイント二重取りする裏技はせこいけど賢い。 That hack for double-dipping on reward points is cheap but clever.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, complaints, gossip, games

Tone: judgemental, critical, exasperated

Do Say

• せこい真似するなよ、みっともない。 (Don't be so petty — it's embarrassing.)
• あいつのやり方せこいけどルール違反じゃないんだよな。 (His methods are cheap but technically not against the rules.)

Don't Say

• 節約してる人に「せこい」は侮辱 — 節約と「せこい」は別物 (Calling someone who is frugal 'sekoi' is an insult — frugality and pettiness are different)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing せこい with ケチ — せこい emphasises pettiness and unfair tactics, while ケチ is more about general tightfistedness with money

Origin & History

Of uncertain etymology, possibly related to Kansai dialect. The word has been part of colloquial Japanese for decades, describing petty behaviour and excessive cheapness.

Cultural Context

Era: Established colloquial Japanese, used for decades

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The concept of being せこい is distinct from mere frugality and always carries a negative moral judgement.