Japanese Conversation · Level 47
90 words
Japanese word
落書き
Pronunciation
Romajirakugaki
Meaning
- noundoodle
Example
ノートに落書きをしないでください。nō to ni raku ga ki o shi na i de ku da sa i
Please do not doodle in your notebook.
More examples
駅の壁にあった落書きが、きれいに消されています。eki no kabe ni a tta raku ga ki ga ki re i ni ke sa re te i ma su
The graffiti on the station wall has been completely erased.
Core concept
Expresses the act or result of adding informal words or pictures to a surface rather than making a planned piece of writing or art.
Common phrases
落書きを消すraku ga ki o ke su
erase a doodle
壁に落書きをするkabe ni raku ga ki o su ru
write graffiti on a wall
Similar words
いたずら書きitazuragaki: A word or picture added to a surface as a prank or without permission.
Definition in Japanese
紙や建物などに、整った作品としてではなく、気ままに文字や絵を書くこと。kami ya tate mono na do ni totono tta saku hin to shi te de wa na ku ki ma ma ni moji ya e o ka ku ko to
Word origin
落書き (rakugaki) comes from 落書く (rakugaku) and is related to 落書 (rakusho), a historical term for anonymous writing; 落 (raku, "fall") does not directly explain the modern sense.
Usage tips
- In everyday Japanese, 落書き (rakugaki) can refer to a harmless margin sketch or a prohibited wall marking, making the surrounding context important for its tone.
Other meanings
- graffitinoun
- scribblenoun