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.
The most common word for doodling or scribbling drawings. Can be a noun or suru-verb.
ノートに落書きをしていた。
I was doodling in my notebook.
壁に落書きするのはやめてください。
Please don't scribble on the walls.
Literally 'mischief writing', implies playful or idle scribbling, similar to doodling.
会議中にいたずら書きをしていた。
I was scribbling during the meeting.
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.
彼の走り書きは読めない。
I can't read his scribbling.
急いで走り書きしたメモを渡した。
I handed over a hastily scribbled note.
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.
ちょっとメモっておくね。
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.
電話番号を走り書きした。
I scribbled down the phone number.
The marks or pretend writing made by young children before they can write properly.
Often used for children's scribbles. Same word as 'violent scribbling' but context changes meaning.
子供が壁になぐり書きをした。
The child scribbled on the wall.
Childish word for drawing or scribbling pictures. Often used by/with small children.
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.
机に落書きするのはやめなさい。
Stop scribbling on your desk.
彼の走り書きのメモはほとんど読めなかった。
I could barely read his scribbled note.
彼女は講義中にノートに落書きをしていた。
She was scribbling in her notebook during the lecture.
怒りながら殴り書きした。
I scribbled angrily.
アイデアを紙に書き散らした。
I scribbled ideas all over the paper.
思いついたことを書き留めた。
I scribbled down what came to mind.
Let's scribble together.