(ざつ)

ざつな
adjective
careless; sloppy; rough
1. careless; sloppy; rough; messy
Lacking care, precision, or attention to detail. Describes work, actions, or a manner that is done without sufficient effort or thoroughness.
仕事(しごと)(ざつ)だ。
The work is sloppy.
(ざつ)(あつか)いをしたら(こわ)れるよ。
If you handle it roughly, it'll break.
(かれ)性格(せいかく)(ざつ)で、(こま)かいことを()にしないタイプだ。
He has a rough personality and is the type who doesn't worry about the small details.

A very common colloquial na-adjective expressing a lack of care or precision. It has a mildly negative tone but is often used in a frank, everyday way rather than as harsh criticism. Can describe physical actions (rough handling), work quality (sloppy output), personality (not detail-oriented), or even speech and explanations (vague, careless).

The adverbial form (ざつ)に is also frequently used.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (ざつ)仕事(しごと): sloppy work
  • (ざつ)(あつか)い: rough handling
  • (ざつ)説明(せつめい): careless explanation
  • (ざつ)性格(せいかく): rough-and-ready personality
  • (ざつ)()く: to put down carelessly

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • いい加減(かげん)な: irresponsible; half-hearted — stronger criticism, implies lack of sincerity
  • 大雑把(おおざっぱ)な: rough; broad-brush — less negative, can be neutral ("big-picture oriented")
  • (あら)い: coarse; rough — more about texture or physical roughness than carelessness
  • 適当(てきとう)な: slapdash; half-hearted (colloquial) — similar casualness but also means "appropriate" in formal use