Translation guide
The English word 'scum' has several distinct meanings: a layer of impurities on a liquid, a contemptible person, and the lowest or most worthless part of something. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each.
Describing the film or froth that forms on the surface of boiling water, soup, or other liquids.
The most common word for scum that rises to the surface when boiling meat, vegetables, or making stock. It is typically skimmed off.
Please skim the scum off the pot.
灰汁が出てきたら、お玉ですくいます。
When scum appears, I scoop it out with a ladle.
Means 'foam' or 'bubbles'. Can be used for scum-like froth, but is more general. Use 灰汁 for the specific cooking scum.
煮立つと表面に泡が出ます。
When it boils, foam appears on the surface.
Literally 'floating dregs'. Can refer to scum or debris on a liquid, but is less common than 灰汁.
スープの浮きかすを取り除く。
Remove the scum from the soup.
Insulting someone as a worthless, despicable person. Strongly derogatory.
The most direct equivalent. Means 'trash' or 'garbage' and is used as a strong insult for a worthless person. Very common in casual and rough speech.
あいつは本当にクズだ。
That guy is total scum.
お前みたいなクズは消えろ。
Scum like you should disappear.
Means 'dregs' or 'residue'. Used similarly to クズ to insult someone as worthless. Slightly less common but still strong.
あんなカスに関わるな。
Don't get involved with scum like that.
Literally 'human trash'. A very strong and explicit insult. Often used in dramatic or angry contexts.
彼は人間のクズだ。
He is scum of the earth.
Means 'garbage'. Can be used to insult a person as worthless, similar to 'trash' in English.
お前はゴミ以下だ。
You are lower than scum.
The kanji form of クズ. Used in writing or formal insults, but the katakana form is more common in casual speech.
社会の屑
scum of society
Referring to the worst elements of a group or society, often in phrases like 'scum of the earth'.
Means 'scum of society'. A common phrase for the worst people in society.
彼らは社会のクズだ。
They are the scum of society.
Means 'the very bottom' or 'lowest stratum'. Can be used metaphorically for the worst group.
彼は社会の最底辺にいる。
He is at the very bottom of society.
Used metaphorically as 'dregs' to mean the worthless remainder. Often in set phrases.
人間のかす
dregs of humanity
Words like クズ, カス, and ゴミ are strong insults. Use with caution; they can be highly offensive and are typically used in very casual or hostile situations. In polite company, avoid them entirely.
あの人はちょっと問題がある。
That person has some issues. (a much milder way to express disapproval)
All three mean 'trash' or 'waste' and can be used as insults. クズ is the most common for 'scum' as a person. カス implies 'dregs' or 'leftover worthless part'. ゴミ is 'garbage' and is slightly more general. They are often interchangeable in insults.