Translation guide
How to express that something is rough in texture, behavior, or condition in Japanese.
Describing a surface that is not smooth, such as sandpaper, skin, or fabric.
An onomatopoeic word for a rough, gritty, or granular texture. Commonly used for surfaces like sandpaper, unpolished wood, or dry skin.
This paper is rough.
My hands are rough and chapped.
Means coarse or rough in texture, often used for materials like sand, cloth, or mesh. Can also describe rough quality or crude workmanship.
This cloth has a rough weave.
Polish it with rough sandpaper.
Describes a hard, bumpy, or rugged surface, like a rocky path or rough hands from manual labor.
This road is rough and hard to walk on.
Means uneven or bumpy, often for roads or surfaces with dips and bumps. Less about texture and more about irregular shape.
Please fix the rough (bumpy) road.
Describing a person who is rude, violent, or lacking gentleness.
Means rough, violent, or reckless in behavior. Often used for physical roughness or harsh treatment.
He uses rough language.
Describes rough, crude, or wild behavior. Can be used for a person's manner or actions.
Specifically means rough-handed or using physical force. Often used for rough treatment or handling.
Describing something that is not in good condition, such as rough seas, rough weather, or a rough draft.
An intransitive verb meaning to become rough, stormy, or wild. Used for weather, sea, or a person's skin condition.
The sea is rough.
The weather might get rough.
An adjective meaning rough, wild, or intense. Can describe waves, breathing, or a rough estimate.
Means rough, approximate, or not detailed. Often used for estimates, plans, or a person's careless nature.
Describing a voice or sound that is not smooth, such as a raspy voice or grating noise.
ざらざら is an onomatopoeic word that vividly describes a gritty or granular feel, like sandpaper. 粗い is more about coarseness of material or weave, and can also imply low quality. Use ざらざら for tactile roughness and 粗い for structural coarseness.
English 'rough' can mean violent or rude, but directly translating to 粗い for behavior is unnatural. Use 乱暴 or 荒っぽい instead. 粗い is mainly for texture or quality.
Please don't handle it roughly.
His driving is rough.
Rough play is dangerous.
手荒い歓迎を受けた。
We received a rough welcome.
On days when the waves are rough, you can't swim.
It's a rough calculation, but it's about right.
Please give me a rough estimate.
He has a rough-and-ready personality.
彼のがらがら声が聞こえた。
I heard his rough voice.