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.
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.
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.
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.
That guy is total scum.
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.
Literally 'human trash'. A very strong and explicit insult. Often used in dramatic or angry contexts.
He is scum of the earth.
Means 'garbage'. Can be used to insult a person as worthless, similar to 'trash' in English.
The kanji form of クズ. Used in writing or formal insults, but the katakana form is more common in casual speech.
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.
They are the scum of society.
Means 'the very bottom' or 'lowest stratum'. Can be used metaphorically for the worst group.
Used metaphorically as 'dregs' to mean the worthless remainder. Often in set phrases.
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.
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.
Don't get involved with scum like that.
You are lower than scum.
scum of society
He is at the very bottom of society.
dregs of humanity