Translation guide
The quality of being uneven, not smooth, harsh, or approximate. This guide covers physical texture, abstract harshness, and approximation.
rough surface
rough estimate
rough handling
Describing a surface that is not smooth to the touch or visually uneven.
An onomatopoeic word describing a rough, gritty, or granular texture. Often used for surfaces like sandpaper, unpolished wood, or dry skin.
The surface of this desk is rough.
Means coarse or rough in texture, often implying large particles or a lack of fineness. Used for things like coarse sand, rough cloth, or coarse skin.
Describes an uneven, bumpy surface. More about irregularity than grittiness. Used for roads, terrain, or surfaces with bumps and dips.
A straightforward negation of 'smooth'. Literally 'not smooth'. Can be used in descriptive contexts but is less idiomatic than the other options.
Describing behavior, conditions, or experiences that are harsh, severe, or lacking gentleness.
Means rough, violent, or wild in action or manner. Used for rough handling, rough seas, rough play, or a rough temper.
He drives roughly.
Means rough, violent, or reckless. Often implies a lack of care or respect, used for rough treatment, rough language, or rough behavior.
Means strict, severe, or harsh. Used for rough conditions, harsh criticism, or a tough environment. Focuses on the difficulty or severity rather than physical violence.
Specifically means rough-handed or rough in handling. Often used for physical roughness in treatment.
Describing something that is approximate, not exact, or done without attention to detail.
Means rough, approximate, or broad. Used for rough estimates, rough outlines, or rough ideas. Implies a general overview without details.
Please give me a rough estimate.
Means rough, approximate, or crude. Often used for rough calculations or rough plans. Can carry a nuance of being somewhat careless.
Can also mean rough in the sense of lacking precision or detail, similar to 'coarse'. Used for rough classification or rough methods.
An adverb meaning 'roughly' or 'approximately'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
Both are read あらい but have different kanji and meanings. 粗い refers to coarse texture or lack of precision. 荒い refers to rough/violent action, manner, or natural conditions. Do not confuse them.
coarse sand
rough waves
English 'rough' in phrases like 'rough day' or 'rough time' does not directly translate to 荒い or 粗い. Use 大変な (taihen na) or つらい (tsurai) instead.
I had a rough day today.
The road was rough and bumpy.
He gave a rough sketch of the plan.
この布は目が粗い。
This cloth has a rough weave.
この道はでこぼこしていて歩きにくい。
This road is rough and hard to walk on.
The surface of this stone is not smooth.
On days when the sea is rough, boats can't go out.
He handled the luggage roughly.
彼は厳しい訓練を受けた。
He underwent rough training.
手荒い歓迎を受けた。
We received a rough welcome.
Roughly speaking, the cost is about one million yen.
この分類は少し粗い。
This classification is a bit rough.
だいたいの人数を教えてください。
Please tell me the rough number of people.