How to say "run-down" in Japanese

• ぼろい
  i-adjectiveCovers the 'run-down' sense for things in shabby, beat-up condition — an old house or apartment, worn-out furniture or clothes. It is colloquial, so it suits casual conversation.
• おんぼろ
  prenominal modifier, na-adjective, no-adjectiveAlso the 'run-down' sense: an old, shabby house or building, or tattered, worn-out things. Unlike colloquial ぼろい and ぼろっちい, it is not tied to casual speech, so it is the safest all-round choice.
  私の車くるまはおんぼろになってしまいました。↗

  My car is on its last legs.
• ぼろっちい
  i-adjectiveA colloquial variant of ぼろい with the same 'run-down, beat-up' meaning; usually written in kana, it is casual and less common — seldom what you want in careful speech, where おんぼろ is safer.

All three cover the same 'run-down' sense — things that are old, worn-out, and shabby — so the choice is mostly about register: 「おんぼろ」 is the neutral option, while colloquial 「ぼろい」 and 「ぼろっちい」 suit casual speech.

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

• ぼろいworn-out
• おんぼろworn-out
• ぼろっちいworn-out
• ぼろworn-out