Translation guide
The act of writing or drawing hastily, carelessly, or absentmindedly. Includes doodling, jotting down notes, and messy handwriting.
Making random marks, patterns, or small drawings without serious intent, often while distracted.
Producing hurried, illegible handwriting, often when taking notes or jotting something down.
Literally 'running writing', describes fast, messy handwriting. Often used for notes or memos.
I can't read his scribbling.
Literally 'hitting writing', implies very rough, violent-looking scribbling. Stronger than 走り書き.
To scribble or jot down in a scattered, disorganized way. Verb.
Writing something quickly to remember it, often in a casual or informal context.
Casual verb meaning 'to jot down' or 'take a memo'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
Let me just scribble that down.
To write down or note something so as not to forget. Slightly more formal than メモる.
To scribble down quickly. Emphasizes speed and messiness.
I scribbled down the phone number.
The marks or pretend writing made by young children before they can write properly.
落書き is for doodles and drawings, often playful. 走り書き is for fast, messy writing (like notes). 殴り書き is rougher, almost violent scribbling, often from anger or extreme haste.
English 'scribbling' covers both drawing and writing. In Japanese, choose the word based on whether it's pictures (落書き) or text (走り書き). Using the wrong one can sound odd.
Stop scribbling on your desk.
I could barely read his scribbled note.
She was scribbling in her notebook during the lecture.
I was scribbling during the meeting.
I handed over a hastily scribbled note.
怒りながら殴り書きした。
I scribbled angrily.
I scribbled ideas all over the paper.
I scribbled down what came to mind.
一緒にお絵かきしよう。
Let's scribble together.