Translation guide
The English word 'fuzz' has several distinct meanings: a soft fluffy texture, a blurred or distorted effect, and slang for police. This guide covers the most common ways to express these concepts in Japanese.
Describing a surface covered with fine, soft fibers or hair, like a peach or a sweater.
Refers to the fuzz or nap on fabric, yarn, or paper. Commonly used for the soft fibers that rise from cloth.
このセーターは毛羽がたくさん出ている。
This sweater has a lot of fuzz on it.
Specifically refers to the fine, soft hair on a person's body or on fruit like peaches. Often translated as 'peach fuzz'.
The baby's cheeks have fuzz on them.
The fuzz on the peach skin bothers me.
Refers to soft, fluffy fibers like cotton wool or the downy fluff on plants (e.g., dandelion seeds). Can also describe the soft fuzz on some fabrics.
The dandelion fuzz is blowing away in the wind.
A verb phrase meaning 'to become fuzzy' or 'to pill' (for fabric). Used when a surface develops fuzz.
The towel got fuzzy after washing.
Describing something unclear, indistinct, or lacking sharpness, like a fuzzy image, sound, or memory.
An intransitive verb meaning 'to be blurred' or 'to be fuzzy'. Used for images, photos, memories, etc.
The photo is fuzzy, so I can't tell who it is.
A na-adjective meaning 'unclear' or 'blurred'. More formal than ぼやける, often used in technical contexts.
An onomatopoeic adverb/noun describing a hazy, fuzzy, or unclear state, often used for thoughts, feelings, or atmosphere.
An adverb/noun meaning 'vaguely', 'dimly', or 'absentmindedly'. Can describe a fuzzy image or a fuzzy state of mind.
Informal, often derogatory term for the police force.
Slang abbreviation of 警察 (けいさつ). Roughly equivalent to 'cops' or 'the fuzz'. Used in casual, sometimes derogatory speech.
Let's get out of here before the fuzz shows up.
Slang derived from 'police'. Similar to 'cops' or 'the fuzz'. Slightly dated but still understood.
The standard word for police. Not slang, but can be used in contexts where 'fuzz' is meant ironically or in translation.
The English slang 'fuzz' is very informal and can be derogatory. In Japanese, サツ and ポリ are similarly slangy and should be avoided in polite conversation. Use 警察 (けいさつ) in neutral contexts.
毛羽 (けば) is for fabric fuzz or pills, while うぶ毛 (うぶげ) is for the fine hair on skin or fruit. Don't use うぶ毛 for a sweater's fuzz.
The photo came out fuzzy.
I have a fuzzy memory of that day.
This peach has a lot of fuzz.
My memory is fuzzy.
The image is fuzzy and I can't read the text.
頭の中がもやもやしている。
My head feels fuzzy.
遠くの山がぼんやりと見える。
The distant mountains look fuzzy.
I got caught by the fuzz.
あいつらは警察だ。
Those guys are the fuzz.