How to say "sloppy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 雑ざつna-adjectiveCovers the everyday sense of sloppy work or a messy result: something done too quickly and without care, so it looks rough. Typical of work, cleaning, or handwriting.
- na-adjectiveDescribes a person who is careless or lax about time, money, or promises — always late, bad with deadlines. It judges habits and attitude, not the finish of a particular piece of work.
- na-adjective, nounSloppy in the sense of careless and faulty: planning, management, or work done without proper care, so mistakes and flaws result. Often written in kana alone.
- だらし無いだらしないi-adjectiveSlovenly rather than merely careless: sloppy appearance, untidy dress or living habits, and a general lack of discipline. Said of people and how they present themselves or keep things.
- 適当てきとうna-adjective, nounSloppy in the perfunctory sense: doing a job half-heartedly, just to get it over with. The word also means 'suitable' or 'vague', so context must make the careless reading clear.
Use 雑 for carelessly finished work, 「ルーズ」 for laxness with time or money, 「ずさん」 for faulty planning, 「だらし無い」 for sloppy appearance or untidiness, and 適当 for perfunctory, half-hearted effort.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 雑ざつrough
- ルーズcareless (with something, esp. time, money, promises, etc.)
- ずさんcareless
- だらしないslovenly (appearance, work, etc.)
- ずぼらsloppy
- しまらないloose
- だらしのないslovenly (appearance, work, etc.)
- だらしがないslovenly (appearance, work, etc.)
- 孟浪もうろうcareless
- ぐしゃぐしゃsoggy
- ちゃらんぽらんirresponsible
- 締まりのないしまりのないslack
- 適当てきとうperfunctory
- アバウトsloppy
- 大雑把おおざっぱcareless (e.g. work)
- 緩慢かんまんlax (regulation, handling, etc.)
- ぐちゃぐちゃsloppy
- ぐさぐさloose
See also
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