인색한
insaekhan
The English word 'stingy' is 인색한 (insaekhan) in Korean.
인색한 is an adjective used to describe someone who is unwilling to spend or give.
Meaning: unwilling to spend or give (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of the adjective is 인색하다, which means 'to be stingy'. The form 인색한 is the adjectival form used to modify a noun, such as 인색한 사람 (a stingy person).
How do you pronounce it?
insaekhan
Did you know?
- While 인색한 is the standard word for 'stingy', Koreans often use the slang term 짠돌이 for a stingy man and 짠순이 for a stingy woman. These words derive from 짜다, which means 'salty', suggesting a personality that is too 'sharp' or 'salty' to be generous.
- When someone is being unexpectedly stingy, a Korean speaker might use the phrase 짠내 난다, which literally translates to 'it smells like salt'.
- In many Korean social settings, being perceived as 인색한 can lead to much stronger social consequences than in the West, as it is seen as a direct violation of the importance of 'jeong' (social bonding).
Examples in context
- 그 사람은 돈에 너무 인색한 것 같아요.geu sarameun done neomu insaekhan geot gatayo.I think that person is too stingy with money.
- 그는 친구들에게 인색한 편이에요.geuneun chingudeurege insaekhan pyeoni-eyo.He tends to be stingy toward his friends.
- 너무 인색한 태도는 좋지 않아요.neomu insaekhan taedo-neun jochi anayo.Being too stingy is not a good attitude.
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are talking about a mutual friend.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 제 친구는 너무 인색한 것 같아요.Minjun ssi, je chin-gu-neun neomu insaeghan geot gat-ayo.Minjun, I think my friend is too stingy.
- 민준 Min-jun정말요? 어떤 점이 그렇게 느껴졌어요?jeongmalyo? eotteon jeom-i geureoke neukkyeojyeosseoyo?Really? What made you feel that way?
- 민지 Min-ji항상 밥값을 안 내려고 하거든요.hangsang bapgap-eul an naeryeogo hageodeunyo.He always tries to avoid paying for meals.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 너무 인색한 사람이네요.jeongmal neomu insaeghan saram-ineyo.He really is a very stingy person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stingy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
