noun
fish bones; bony parts left after filleting
Refers to the remaining bones, head, and scraps after a fish is filleted. Often used in cooking contexts, e.g., making stock.
アラでだしを取ると、いい味が出る。
If you make stock with fish bones, it gives a good flavor.
noun
Especially used for a person's character flaw or shortcoming. Often in the phrase アラを探す (find fault).
彼は人のアラばかり探している。
He is always finding fault with others.
noun
rice chaff
Rare, specific term for the husks separated during rice polishing. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.
精米所でアラがたくさん出る。
A lot of rice chaff comes out at the rice-polishing factory.
prefix
rough; crude; raw; natural; wild
Prefix used in compounds to mean unrefined, coarse, or in a natural state. Examples: 粗削り (rough-hewn), 粗探し (fault-finding).
粗削りな性格だが、憎めない。
He has a rough personality, but you can't hate him.
粗探しばかりしていないで、良いところを見
Instead of just finding faults, let's look for the good points.
Kanji form; rarely used. May appear in some compounds or literary contexts.
The origin is uncertain. The word may be related to the stem of the adjective 荒い (rough, wild), but the exact derivation is unclear.