凸凹

でこぼこ

unevenness, roughness, ruggedness

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"凸凹" (でこぼこ) describes surfaces or terrains that are uneven, bumpy, or rugged. It is often used to talk about physical textures like roads, tables, or ground that are not smooth.

Common Collocations

  • 凸凹した道 (でこぼこしたみち): bumpy road, often used when describing walking or driving conditions.
  • 凸凹の表面 (でこぼこのひょうめん): uneven surface, common in descriptions of objects or materials.
  • 凸凹を直す (でこぼこをなおす): to fix or smooth out bumps or unevenness.

Register and Nuance

This word is neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. It can describe both minor and significant unevenness. It often implies some difficulty or inconvenience caused by the unevenness.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "凸凹" with words that mean "unequal" in a social or abstract sense. Remember, "凸凹" strictly refers to physical unevenness or roughness, not metaphorical differences.

Practical Tips

Use "凸凹" when you want to emphasize the physical texture or condition of a surface. It’s a handy word for describing roads, floors, or any object that isn’t flat or smooth.

Example Sentences

このみちはでこぼこしていてあるきにくい。

This road is uneven and hard to walk on.

つくえのひょうめんがでこぼこしているので、かみがすべりにくい。

The surface of the desk is uneven, so the paper doesn’t slide easily.

こどもたちはでこぼこみちをじてんしゃではしるのがすきだ。

Children like to ride their bicycles on bumpy roads.