Translation guide
The English word 'raw' covers several distinct meanings: uncooked food, unprocessed materials, inexperienced people, sore skin, and frank emotions. Japanese uses different words for each.
Describing food that is not cooked, such as raw meat, fish, or vegetables.
The most common word for 'raw' in the context of food. Can be used for meat, fish, eggs, etc.
Sashimi is raw fish.
生卵を食べるのは好きじゃない。
I don't like eating raw eggs.
Attributive form of 生, used before nouns. Often interchangeable with 生.
生の肉には気をつけてください。
Be careful with raw meat.
Label on food packaging meaning 'for raw consumption', e.g., on oysters or fish intended to be eaten raw.
この牡蠣は生食用です。
These oysters are for raw consumption.
Referring to materials in their natural, unrefined state, such as raw data, raw materials, or raw footage.
Also used for unprocessed data, footage, or sound. Often combined with other words.
生データを分析する。
Analyze the raw data.
生の映像を編集する。
Edit the raw footage.
Means 'unprocessed' or 'raw' in a more technical sense, often for materials or data.
Specifically 'raw materials' for manufacturing. Not used for data.
Describing a person who is new, untrained, or lacking experience, like a raw recruit.
Means 'immature' or 'inexperienced'. Can be used for skills or people.
彼はまだ未熟な新人だ。
He's still a raw recruit.
A novice or beginner, often used for someone just starting in a profession.
A derogatory term for a greenhorn or inexperienced youth. Slightly old-fashioned.
Describing skin that is red, painful, or abraded, often from friction or cold.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be scraped' or 'to be raw' (skin). Often used for minor injuries.
転んで膝が擦りむけた。
I fell and my knee is raw.
Onomatopoeic phrase for a stinging or raw sensation, like chafed skin or a sore throat.
日焼けで肌がひりひりする。
My skin feels raw from sunburn.
Noun meaning rough or chapped skin, often from dryness or irritation.
Describing emotions that are intense, exposed, or unfiltered, like raw anger or raw grief.
Means 'exposed' or 'bare', often used for raw emotions or undisguised feelings.
彼の怒りがむき出しになった。
His raw anger showed.
Alternate kanji for むき出し, same meaning. Less common.
While 生 (なま) can mean 'raw' for food and data, using it to describe a person (e.g., 生の人) would mean 'live person' or be confusing. Use 未熟 or 駆け出し for inexperience.
彼は未熟な新人だ。
He's a raw recruit.
生 (なま) is the most versatile word for 'raw', covering food, data, and materials. 未加工 (みかこう) is more technical and emphasizes 'unprocessed', often used in industrial or data contexts.
生の魚 vs. 未加工の素材
raw fish vs. raw materials
Use raw materials.
原料を輸入する。
Import raw materials.
駆け出しの記者です。
I'm a raw reporter.
あんな青二才に何ができる。
What can such a raw kid do?
冬は肌荒れしやすい。
My skin gets raw easily in winter.
Means 'vivid' or 'raw' in the sense of being fresh and emotionally powerful, often for memories or descriptions.
戦争の生々しい記憶。
Raw memories of the war.
剥き出しの感情。
Raw emotions.