Raw
Meaning: Impressively authentic, unfiltered, or powerful in an unpolished way.
When talent or art is 'raw,' it's impressive because of — not despite — its lack of polish. A raw rapper has natural ability. A raw performance is emotionally honest and powerful. It values authenticity and natural ability over refinement and training.
Examples
- His freestyle was raw — pure talent, no rehearsal. 他的即兴说唱太生猛了——纯粹的天赋,没有排练。Su freestyle fue raw — talento puro, sin ensayo.彼のフリースタイルはロウだった——純粋な才能、リハーサルなし。그의 프리스타일은 날것이었다 — 순수한 재능, 리허설 없이.
- That documentary was really raw. No sugarcoating, just the truth. 那部纪录片真的很真实。没有粉饰,只有真相。Ese documental fue realmente raw. Sin edulcorar, solo la verdad.あのドキュメンタリーは本当にロウだった。美化なし、ただ真実だけ。그 다큐멘터리는 정말 날것이었다. 미화 없이, 그저 진실만.
- She has raw athletic talent. With proper coaching, she'll be a star. 她有天生的运动天赋。有了好教练,她一定会成为明星。Tiene un talento atlético raw. Con un buen entrenador, será una estrella.彼女には生まれ持ったアスリートとしての才能がある。ちゃんとしたコーチがつけばスターになる。그녀에게는 날것의 운동 재능이 있다. 제대로 된 코치만 붙으면 스타가 될 거야.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: talent, music, art, authenticity
Tone: admiring, respectful
✓ Do Say
- That verse was raw.那段verse太生猛了。Esa estrofa fue raw.あのヴァース、ロウだったわ。그 구절 진짜 날것이었다.
- She's got raw talent.她有过人的天赋。Tiene talento raw.彼女には生の才能がある。그녀는 날것의 재능이 있어.
✗ Don't Say
- Can also mean harsh or uncomfortable ('raw honesty'), which overlaps with the approval meaning but has a different emotional register也可以表示严酷或不舒服的('raw honesty' 赤裸的诚实),与赞美含义有重叠但情感色彩不同También puede significar duro o incómodo ('raw honesty'), lo cual se solapa con el significado de aprobación pero tiene un registro emocional diferente厳しい・不快というニュアンスもある(「raw honesty=容赦ない正直さ」)。称賛の意味と重なるが、感情的なニュアンスは異なる거칠거나 불편한 것을 의미할 수도 있다('가감 없는 솔직함'). 이는 칭찬의 의미와 겹치지만 감정적 뉘앙스가 다르다
Origin & History
American English from the hip-hop and street culture of the 1990s-2000s, where 'raw' described music or talent that was unrefined but powerful. It values the realness and grit that polished production can sometimes remove.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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