also: ばんカラ
na-adjective, noun
scruffy; unconcerned about appearance
Describes a person, especially a male student, who is rough, unkempt, and unconcerned with fashion or grooming. Often associated with a traditional, anti-trendy student style.
彼はいつもバンカラな格好で、髪もぼさぼさだ。
He always looks scruffy, with messy hair and careless clothes.
バンカラな学生が学食でラーメンをすすっている。
A scruffy student is slurping ramen in the school cafeteria.
noun, na-adjective
rough and uncouth vigor
Refers to a rough, spirited, and somewhat uncultured energy, often associated with old-school student life or a boisterous, unrefined masculinity.
彼の演説にはバンカラな勢いがあった。
His speech had a rough and uncouth vigor.
Probably from 蛮 (ban, 'barbarian') + カラ (kara, from カラー 'collar' or possibly from から 'style'). The exact derivation is uncertain; it emerged as a student slang term in the Meiji or Taisho era, contrasting with ハイカラ (high collar, i.e., fashionable).