Japanese word

粗末

Pronunciation

Romajisomatsu

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveshabby

Example

その小屋は粗末です。so no ko ya wa so matsu de su

That hut is shabby.

Illustration for 粗末 (shabby)

More examples

彼は粗末な服でも気にせず着ていました。kare wa so matsu na fuku de mo ki ni se zu ki te i ma shi ta

He wore shabby clothes without worrying about them.

Core concept

Centers on a lack of quality or finish that makes an object seem simple, plain, or shabby.

Common phrases

  • 粗末な建物so matsu na tate mono

    a shabby building

  • 粗末な食事so matsu na shoku ji

    a meager meal

  • 粗末な暮らしso matsu na ku ra shi

    a humble lifestyle

Similar words

粗悪soaku: Describes something that is inferior in quality because it is poorly made or finished.
質素shisso: Describes a plain way of living or an object with little luxury or decoration.
簡素kanso: Describes something made simple by using few parts or details.
粗雑sozatsu: Describes work or treatment done without care or precision.

Definition in Japanese

材料や造りが簡単で、上等でないさま。zai ryō ya tsuku ri ga kan tan de jō tō de na i sa ma

Word origin

粗末 (somatsu) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 粗 (so, "coarse") and 末 (matsu, "end or detail"); together, they suggest a result that is not carefully finished.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 粗末な扱い (somatsu na atsukai) means careless treatment, showing that the word can describe how people or things are treated as well as how objects look.

Other meanings

  • low-qualityna-adjective
  • plainna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 粗末さsomatsusashabbinessnoun

Word lists with this word