粗糙

• Pinyin: cū cāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 粗 = 米 + 且 (coarse); 糙 = 米 + 造 (rough, unpolished rice)

Meaning

Rough; coarse; crude. Describes textures that are not smooth, or work that lacks refinement.

Used for physical textures (skin, surface), quality of work (sloppy, unpolished), or craftsmanship. Opposite of 光滑 (smooth) or 精细 (refined). Can be neutral (texture description) or negative (quality criticism).

Examples

1. 这块木板表面太粗糙了，需要再打磨一下。 The surface of this wooden board is too rough — it needs more sanding.
2. 他的作品构思不错，但制作工艺还比较粗糙。 His work has good ideas, but the craftsmanship is still rather crude.
3. 常年干农活让她的双手变得粗糙起来。 Years of farm work have made her hands rough.

Usage Guide

Context: description, quality, texture

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这块布料摸起来很粗糙。(This fabric feels rough to the touch.)
• 报告写得太粗糙，需要修改。(The report is too rough; it needs revision.)

Don't Say

• 她的皮肤粗糙又光滑 (Contradictory — 粗糙 and 光滑 are opposites)

Origin & History

Compound of 粗 (coarse) + 糙 (rough, unpolished). Both characters relate to unrefined grain, extending to describe rough textures.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal