Translation guide
The English verb 'scribble' refers to writing or drawing quickly and carelessly, often with messy results. In Japanese, different words and phrases capture the speed, messiness, or purpose of scribbling.
To produce text or a picture quickly without attention to neatness.
Literally 'running writing', this is the most common and neutral way to say 'scribble' for hasty handwriting. It can be a noun or used with する.
His scribbles are almost illegible.
I scribbled down a note.
Literally 'hitting writing', this implies even more violent, careless scribbling than 走り書き. It often carries a negative nuance of writing angrily or extremely roughly.
I scribbled the letter in a fit of anger.
Means 'to write messily/scrawled'. ぐちゃぐちゃ is an onomatopoeia for a messy, disordered state. It emphasizes the messy result rather than the speed.
The child scribbled messily in the notebook.
Means 'graffiti' or 'doodle'. It refers to scribbling on walls, desks, or margins, often as idle drawing rather than writing. Not used for hasty note-taking.
Stop scribbling on the walls.
To draw lines, shapes, or patterns absentmindedly, without creating a clear picture or text.
Means 'doodle' or 'scribble' in the sense of idle, playful drawing. It is a common word for drawing while on the phone or in a meeting.
I was scribbling on a notepad while on the phone.
Literally 'draw lines round and round'. Describes the act of making circular scribbles or loops, often when thinking or bored.
To produce written text in a hurried, sloppy manner.
The simplest way to say 'write quickly'. It doesn't inherently mean messy, but context can imply scribbling.
I wrote it in a hurry, so my handwriting is messy.
Means 'write carelessly/roughly'. ぞんざい implies a lack of care or respect, so it can sound like you didn't put effort into the writing.
He scribbled the note carelessly.
走り書き is the standard word for hasty, messy handwriting. 殴り書き is stronger, implying violent or angry scribbling. 落書き refers to graffiti or doodling on surfaces, not quick writing.
a scribbled memo
a furiously scribbled letter
scribbles on the wall
While 落書き can be translated as 'scribble', it specifically means graffiti or doodling. Using it for a quickly written memo would sound unnatural.
He scribbled a note and left.
The toddler scribbled all over the wall with crayons.
While thinking, I was scribbling circles on the paper.