adjective

  1. astringent, bitter, puckery, rough, harsh, tart.
  2. austere, elegant (and unobtrusive), refined, quiet (and simple), sober, somber, subdued, tasteful (in a quiet way), understated.
  3. sour (look), glum, grim, sullen, sulky.
  4. stingy, tight-fisted.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
渋い しぶい
 
澁い しぶい

Contained Kanji Breakdown

astringent, hesitate, reluctant
しぶ ジュウ (Early High School, N1)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
stop, halt
と.まる シ どめ (2nd, N4)
divining, fortune-telling, divination or katakana to radical (no. 25)
ボク うらな.う うらない (Kentei Pre-1)
two-stroke water radical or ice radical (no. 15)
ヒョウ こおり (Kentei 1)