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.
His beard is scraggly.
Scraggly grass is growing in the garden.
Describes dry, brittle, and lackluster hair or fur. Emphasizes the dry, unhealthy texture.
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.
Beyond the scraggly grove of trees, a lake was visible.
To describe something that looks messy, irregular, or poorly maintained, like a scraggly beard or plant.
Onomatopoeic word for bushy, unkempt hair or fur. Suggests a messy, tangled look.
When I woke up, my hair was scraggly.
Means disheveled or messy. Can be used for hair, clothes, or appearance. More general than scraggly but fits in context.
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.
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.
scraggly beard (thin and patchy)
scraggly hair (messy and uncombed)
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).
He has a scraggly beard.
もじゃもじゃの犬がかわいい。
The scraggly dog is cute.