Translation guide
Describes something that is thin, uneven, and untidy in appearance, often referring to hair, plants, or beards.
To describe hair, fur, or vegetation that is sparse, patchy, and messy.
Means sparse, thin, or scattered. Commonly used for hair, plants, or crowds. Neutral and widely understood.
To describe something that looks messy, irregular, or poorly maintained, like a scraggly beard or plant.
まばら focuses on sparseness and thinness, while ぼさぼさ emphasizes messiness and lack of grooming. Use まばら for a patchy beard, and ぼさぼさ for bedhead hair.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'scraggly'. Avoid direct translations; instead, choose the word that best fits the specific aspect (thinness, messiness, dryness).
His beard is scraggly.
庭にまばらな草が生えている。
Scraggly grass is growing in the garden.
Describes dry, brittle, and lackluster hair or fur. Emphasizes the dry, unhealthy texture.
パサパサした髪が風で乱れた。
Her scraggly hair was messed up by the wind.
Same as まばら but written with kanji. More formal or literary. Rare in everyday use.
疎らな木立の向こうに湖が見えた。
Beyond the scraggly grove of trees, a lake was visible.
Onomatopoeic word for bushy, unkempt hair or fur. Suggests a messy, tangled look.
朝起きたら髪がぼさぼさだった。
When I woke up, my hair was scraggly.
彼はぼさぼさのひげを生やしている。
He has a scraggly beard.
Means disheveled or messy. Can be used for hair, clothes, or appearance. More general than scraggly but fits in context.
乱れた髪を手で整えた。
She fixed her scraggly hair with her hands.
Describes thick, curly, and unruly hair or fur. Often used for a messy beard or animal fur. More about curliness and volume.
もじゃもじゃの犬がかわいい。
The scraggly dog is cute.