Translation guide
Describes a lack of neatness or order, covering physical messiness, disorganized appearance, and careless habits.
Describe a space that is not neat, with things out of place.
Most common way to say a room or area is messy, with stuff scattered around.
部屋が散らかっている。
The room is untidy.
机の上が散らかっているね。
Your desk is messy, isn't it?
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become messy'. Often used to describe the state of being untidy.
子供が遊んだ後、部屋が散らかった。
After the kids played, the room got untidy.
Onomatopoeic word for a jumbled, messy state. Often used for cluttered spaces or mixed-up things.
引き出しの中がごちゃごちゃだ。
The inside of the drawer is a mess.
Formal word for disorder or clutter. Often used in written descriptions.
書類が乱雑に置かれている。
The documents are placed in an untidy manner.
Describe a person's appearance that is not neat, such as messy hair or wrinkled clothes.
Describes a sloppy, untidy appearance or careless attitude. Can also refer to habits.
彼はいつもだらしない格好をしている。
He always looks untidy.
だらしない服装で会社に行ってはいけない。
You shouldn't go to work with untidy clothes.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become disheveled', often used for hair or clothing.
Onomatopoeic word for messy, unkempt hair.
Describe a person who is habitually untidy or careless in their actions.
Also used for a person's character, meaning sloppy or lacking discipline.
彼はお金にだらしない。
He is careless with money.
Describes a person who is habitually lazy about tidiness and chores.
Negative form of 'meticulous', meaning not orderly or neat. A softer way to say someone is untidy.
彼は几帳面じゃないから、書類がよくなくなる。
He's not very tidy, so he often loses documents.
Describe handwriting, work, or results that are messy or not neat.
Literally 'dirty', but commonly used for messy handwriting or sloppy work.
字が汚いね。
Your handwriting is untidy.
Means rough or crude, often used for careless work or messy writing.
このレポートは字が雑だ。
This report has untidy handwriting.
散らかっている focuses on the physical state of a space being messy. だらしない describes a person's appearance or character as sloppy. Use 散らかっている for rooms, and だらしない for people.
部屋が散らかっている。
The room is untidy.
彼はだらしない。
He is untidy (in appearance or habits).
Avoid directly translating 'untidy' as 非整頓 (ひせいとん) or similar made-up words. Use natural expressions like 散らかっている or だらしない depending on context.
風で髪が乱れた。
My hair got untidy from the wind.
My hair is all untidy from sleeping.
I'm untidy by nature, so my room is always messy.