Meaning and Usage
"粗い" (あらい) primarily means "coarse" or "rough" and is used to describe textures, manners, or qualities that are not smooth or fine. It can refer to physical roughness, such as fabric or surfaces, or to abstract qualities like rough explanations or behavior.
Common Contexts
- Describing texture: fabric, sandpaper, or surfaces that feel rough to the touch.
- Describing behavior or actions: rough driving, rough handling.
- Describing quality: a rough draft or a rough explanation that lacks detail.
Collocations and Patterns
- 粗い織り (あらいおり): coarse weave, used for textiles.
- 粗い運転 (あらいうんてん): rough driving, implies careless or dangerous driving.
- 粗い説明 (あらいせつめい): rough explanation, meaning not detailed or precise.
Register and Nuance
"粗い" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It often carries a slightly negative nuance when describing behavior or quality, implying something is not refined or careful.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "粗い" with "荒い" (also read あらい), which can mean "violent" or "wild." While both share the same reading and similar meanings, "粗い" focuses on coarseness or roughness in texture or quality, whereas "荒い" often refers to roughness in behavior or natural phenomena. Context will usually clarify which kanji to use.