粗そ忽こつ者もの

そ

こ

つ

も

の

Meanings

careless person; thoughtless person; scatterbrain

Refers to a person who is habitually careless, inattentive, or prone to making thoughtless mistakes. Often used in a mildly critical or self-deprecating way.

彼かれは粗そ忽こつ者もので、よく待まち合あわせの時じ間かんを間ま違ちがえる。
He is a careless person and often gets the meeting time wrong.
自じ分ぶんは粗そ忽こつ者ものだから、大だい事じな書しょ類るいはすぐにしまうようにしている。
I'm a scatterbrain, so I make sure to put important documents away right away.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

粗coarse, rough, rugged
忽in a moment, instantly, all of a sudden
者someone, person

Related words

そそっかしい
An adjective meaning 'careless' or 'thoughtless' in a more general sense, describing actions or personality, while 粗忽者 specifically refers to a person who is habitually careless.
うっかり者もの
Also means 'careless person', but うっかり者 emphasizes absent-mindedness or making mistakes due to inattention, whereas 粗忽者 can imply a broader lack of thoughtfulness or consideration.

Built from

粗そ忽こつ+者もの

Etymology

Composed of 粗忽 (そこつ, 'carelessness' or 'thoughtlessness') and 者 (もの, 'person'). 粗忽 is a Sino-Japanese word (kango) combining 粗 (coarse, rough) and 忽 (neglect, disregard). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used since the Edo period to describe a person prone to careless mistakes.