Translation guide
Describes something that is uneven in quality, coverage, or consistency, like a surface with patches.
Describing something that is good in parts but bad in others, inconsistent.
Literally 'there is unevenness'. The most common and natural way to say something is patchy in quality or performance.
Describing something that does not cover an area fully, like patchy fog or patchy knowledge.
むらがある is used for abstract unevenness like performance or quality. まだら is more visual, describing spots or patches of color, light, or texture.
His grades are patchy.
Means 'mottled' or 'patchy', often used for colors or patterns, but can metaphorically describe unevenness.
The fog is patchy.
Kanji for まだら, used in written or technical contexts.
patchy hair loss
Means 'here and there', implying scattered or patchy distribution.
There is patchy snow remaining.
Literally 'mottled pattern', used for visual patchiness.
The wall paint is patchy.
Means 'fragmentary', used for patchy information or knowledge.
His memory is patchy.