粗(あら)い

あらい
i-adjective
coarse; rough; crude
See also: 荒(あら)い (rough, violent (荒))
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present粗(あら)い粗(あら)くない
Past粗(あら)かった粗(あら)くなかった
て form粗(あら)くて粗(あら)くなくて
Adverbial粗(あら)く—
Conditional ば粗(あら)ければ粗(あら)くなければ
Conditional たら粗(あら)かったら粗(あら)くなかったら
1. coarse; rough (texture)
Having a rough or unrefined texture with large particles or loose weave.
この布(ぬの)は目(め)が粗(あら)い。
This cloth has a coarse weave.
粗(あら)い塩(しお)を使(つか)ってください。
Please use coarse salt.
粗(あら)い砂(すな)が靴(くつ)の中(なか)に入(はい)った。
Coarse sand got into my shoes.
2. crude; rough; careless
Lacking precision or refinement in work or behavior.
仕事(しごと)が粗(あら)いので、やり直(なお)してください。
Your work is sloppy, so please redo it.
彼(かれ)は性格(せいかく)は良(よ)いが、仕事(しごと)が粗(あら)い。
He has a good personality, but his work is sloppy.
粗(あら)い計算(けいさん)でもだいたいの数字(すうじ)はわかる。
Even with a rough calculation, you can get an approximate figure.

粗(あら)い is an i-adjective describing coarseness of texture or crudeness of quality.

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: 粗(あら)く
  • Noun form: 粗(あら)さ (coarseness)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 目(め)が粗(あら)い (coarse weave/mesh)
  • 粗(あら)い塩(しお) (coarse salt)
  • 仕事(しごと)が粗(あら)い (sloppy work)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 粗(あら)い vs. 荒(あら)い: Both read あらい, but 粗(あら)い refers to texture/quality (coarse, crude), while 荒(あら)い refers to intensity/behavior (rough, wild, violent).

ORTHOGRAPHY:
The distinction between 粗(あら) and 荒(あら) is important but often confused in casual writing.

Related Words

Contrast: 荒(あら)い (rough, wild (different kanji))
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:52
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