Translation guide
The English word 'sparse' describes something that is thinly distributed or not dense. In Japanese, the best translation depends on what is sparse: objects, vegetation, hair, population, or information. This guide organizes the most common and natural ways to express 'sparse' in Japanese.
Describe a situation where things are few and far between, not crowded.
The most common and versatile word for 'sparse'. It can describe sparse crowds, vegetation, hair, etc. Often used as a な-adjective or adverbially.
観客はまばらだった。
The audience was sparse.
木がまばらに生えている。
Trees are growing sparsely.
Kanji form of まばら, but less common in modern writing. Same meaning and usage.
疎らな拍手が聞こえた。
Sparse applause could be heard.
Means 'scattered here and there', often used for objects or features distributed sparsely over an area. More formal/literary.
この地域には小さな村が散在している。
Small villages are sparsely scattered in this region.
Describe plants, grass, or trees that are not dense.
Works perfectly for sparse vegetation.
草がまばらに生えた庭。
A yard with sparse grass.
Literally 'thin', but can describe sparse growth when referring to density of coverage, like thin hair or thin forest.
Means 'coarse' or 'rough', but can imply sparseness in texture or arrangement, like coarse mesh or sparse weave.
粗い網目
sparse mesh
Describe an area with few inhabitants or low population density.
Direct phrase meaning 'population is sparse'.
この地域は人口がまばらだ。
This area has a sparse population.
Term for 'depopulation' or 'underpopulation', often used in social contexts to describe rural areas with declining, sparse populations.
過疎地域
sparsely populated area
Means 'remote' or 'far from human habitation', implying sparse population.
人里離れた山奥
sparsely populated mountain depths
Describe content that is lacking in detail, thin, or not substantial.
Means 'scarce' or 'meager', often used for sparse information, resources, or evidence.
情報が乏しい。
Information is sparse.
Simple word for 'few' or 'little', can be used for sparse details.
Means 'thin' or 'dilute', used for sparse content or weak presence. Often formal.
Use まばら for physical distribution (objects, people, plants). Use 乏しい for abstract scarcity (information, resources, talent). まばら is about spacing; 乏しい is about insufficient quantity.
The katakana word スパース is sometimes used in technical contexts (e.g., sparse matrix), but in everyday language it sounds unnatural. Stick to native Japanese words.
My hair is getting sparse/thin.
薄い森
sparse forest
詳細が少ない。
Details are sparse.
An article with sparse content.