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.

Noun

けち or ケチ • (kechi) 

1. miser
2. miserliness; stinginess

Adjective

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

1. stingy, miserly

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