Entry
ザラザラ
zarazara
Describes a surface that feels rough to the touch, is covered in gritty particles like sand, or a voice that sounds raspy.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Zarazara captures the tactile sensation of touching something uneven, coarse, or granular. It is perfectly suited for things like sandpaper, concrete, or a cat's tongue. It is also a very common way to complain about a floor that has dust or sand on it, making it uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. Additionally, it can describe a harsh, raspy voice.
- Rough and uneven physical surfaces
- Gritty sensation from dirt or sand
- Raspy or harsh vocal quality
Sense Map
Rough Texture
Used for surfaces that are inherently coarse and provide friction when touched.
ザラザラした壁
Gritty Sensation
Used when a surface is covered in tiny particles, like dust or sand, making it feel unpleasant.
砂でザラザラだ
Harsh Voice
Describes a voice that is not clear or smooth, often due to a dry or sore throat.
ザラザラした声
Usage Note
How to Use
ザラザラする
Used as a verb to express that something currently feels rough or gritty.
ザラザラした + noun
Modifies a noun to describe a thing that has a rough surface.
ザラザラになる
Indicates a change in state, meaning something has become rough.
ザラザラと + verb
Acts as an adverb describing an action accompanied by a rough sensation or sound.
How to Use
Common Phrases
表面がザラザラする
the surface feels rough
ザラザラした手触り
rough to the touch
肌がザラザラになる
skin becomes rough
床がザラザラだ
the floor is gritty/dusty
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Materials | neutral | Objectively describes unpolished materials like concrete, unglazed pottery, or sandpaper. |
| Household Cleanliness | negative | Commonly used to express discomfort when walking barefoot on a floor covered in dust or tracked-in dirt. |
| Skincare | negative | Used to complain about skin losing its smoothness due to cold weather, harsh soap, or lack of exfoliation. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
がさがさ がさがさ / similar | Choose gasagasa when the roughness is primarily caused by severe dryness, such as dead leaves, stiff paper, or chapped skin. | Zarazara focuses on the presence of small bumps or particles, while gasagasa focuses on a lack of moisture causing a stiff, dry texture. | 手ががさがさだ |
じゃりじゃり じゃりじゃり / similar | Use jarijari when there is a distinct crunching or grinding sensation of hard particles rubbing together, like biting into sand. | Zarazara is mostly about how a surface feels to a passing touch, whereas jarijari involves active grinding or crushing of grit. | 砂がじゃりじゃりする |
つるつる つるつる / opposite | Use tsurutsuru for surfaces that are perfectly smooth, slippery, and frictionless. | This is the direct opposite of zarazara. A zarazara floor needs to be cleaned and polished to become tsurutsuru. | つるつるの床 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Translating the English phrase 'a rough day' as zarazara.
Zarazara is strictly for physical textures and voice quality. It cannot be used for abstract difficulties.
Using zarazara for dry, damaged hair.
Damaged hair is usually described as pasapasa or basabasa. Zarazara is better suited for skin or hard surfaces.
Examples
Examples
この壁の表面はザラザラしている。
この かべ の ひょうめん は ザラザラ して いる。
The surface of this wall feels rough.
LiteralDescribes the physical texture of an unfinished material.
床に砂が落ちていて、歩くとザラザラする。
ゆか に すな が おちて いて、あるく と ザラザラ する。
There's sand on the floor, and it feels gritty when I walk.
LiteralA very common usage for complaining about a dirty or gritty floor.
手が乾燥してザラザラになってしまった。
て が かんそう して ザラザラ に なって しまった。
My hands got dry and became rough.
LiteralDescribes skin that has lost its smoothness, often during winter.
風邪のせいか、喉がザラザラする。
かぜ の せい か、のど が ザラザラ する。
Maybe because of a cold, my throat feels raspy.
FigurativeExtended usage describing the physical sensation inside the throat or the resulting voice.
猫の舌はザラザラしていて不思議な感触だ。
ねこ の した は ザラザラ して いて ふしぎな かんしょく だ。
A cat's tongue is rough and has a strange feel to it.
LiteralA classic example for a naturally rough biological surface.
Similar Words
がさがさ
gasagasa
Describes a harsh rustling sound or a dry, rough texture that feels unpleasantly coarse to the touch. Focuses more on severe dryness and stiffness (e.g., dead leaves, chapped hands).
じゃりじゃり
jarijari
Describes a gritty texture or the crunchy sound of small, hard particles like sand or gravel. Focuses on the grinding sensation or sound of hard particles like sand.
つるつる
tsurutsuru
Describes a surface that is exceptionally smooth, often to the point of being slick, shiny, or slippery. The opposite of zarazara; perfectly smooth, slick, and frictionless.
Questions
Can I use zarazara for a rough personality?
No. Zarazara is mainly for physical objects or voice. For a rough or violent personality, use words like araarai or ranbou.
What is the difference between zarazara and gasagasa for skin?
Zarazara skin feels bumpy or granular, like goosebumps or clogged pores. Gasagasa skin is severely dry, chapped, and stiff.
Does zarazara always imply dirt?
Not always. While a 'zarazara floor' means it's dirty with sand or dust, a 'zarazara wall' just means the wall material itself is physically rough like concrete.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1005420
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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