How to say "coarse" in Japanese

• 粗いあらいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe basic adjective for physical coarseness: a texture or grain that is not fine, as of sand, fabric, or skin. For most everyday senses of 'coarse' this is the word you want.
  彼女かのじょのドレスはきめの粗あらいウールでできていた。↗

  Her dress was made of coarse wool.
• ザラザラCommon
  adverb (with と), suru verb, no-adjective, na-adjectiveA mimetic word for a gritty, granular feel — the coarseness of a sandy or sandpaper-like surface — and for a rough, scratchy voice; use it when the coarseness can be felt or heard.
  猫ねこの舌したはざらざらしている。↗

  The tongue of a cat feels rough.
• 下品げひんJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers the figurative sense of 'coarse': vulgar speech, jokes, or behavior that shows bad taste. A 'coarse joke' or 'coarse language' is 下品, not a matter of texture.
  下品げひん極きわまる盛り場さかりばに通かよいつける。↗

  He haunts the lowest resorts.
• 粗大そだいCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes things that are both large and coarse, and also means bulky; its 'coarse' sense is mostly found in technical descriptions of grains or particles. Not the word for coarse textures like sand or fabric.
• 粗悪そあくCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe 'coarse' here is about quality, not texture: it describes things, especially manufactured goods, that are crudely or shoddily made and inferior. Use it for badly made products rather than for rough surfaces.

Use 「粗い」 for physical coarseness of texture or grain, 「ザラザラ」 for gritty textures and rough voices, 下品 for coarse manners or jokes, 粗大 for large, bulky coarseness, and 粗悪 for crudely made, inferior goods.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 粗いあらいcoarse
• ざらざらrough (touch, voice, etc.)
• 下品げひんvulgar
• 粗大そだいcoarse
• 粗悪そあくcoarse
• 粗雑そざつcoarse
• 低俗ていぞくvulgar
• 荒いあらいrough
• 粗そcoarse
• 雑いざついcoarse
• 粗略そりゃくcoarse
• 目の粗いめのあらいcoarse (texture or grain)
• むくつけきcoarse
• がさつcrude
• 野卑やひvulgar
• 俗悪ぞくあくvulgar
• 卑俗ひぞくvulgar
• 低次元ていじげんlow-level
• 俗臭芬々ぞくしゅうふんぷんvulgar
• ルードrude
• がさがさrough (of a person)
• 卑しいいやしいvulgar
• 荒っぽいあらっぽいrough (e.g. work)
• 汚いきたないindecent (language, etc.)
• 乱暴らんぼうrough (handling, language, etc.)
• つぶつぶgrainy
• 下賎げせんlowly
• ざっくりrough (material)