セコい

• Reading: セコい
• Romaji: sekoi
• Pronunciation: /se.ko.i/

Meaning

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.

Examples

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？ Going all the way to a faraway store just for the points — isn't that kind of cheap?
2. セコいやり方で勝っても嬉しくないでしょ。 Winning through cheap tactics doesn't feel good, does it?
3. セコい節約自慢されても反応に困る。 I never know how to react when someone brags about their penny-pinching tricks.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, casual conversation, social media, gaming

Tone: contemptuous, mocking

Do Say

• 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.)

Don't Say

• 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)

Common Mistakes

• 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

Origin & History

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.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s onward

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used nationwide. Common in both everyday conversation and gaming/competitive contexts.