coarse

IPA/kɔːs/
KK[kˈɔrs]IPA/kɔːrs/

coarse — adjective

  • coarsepositive
  • coarsercomparative
  • coarsestsuperlative

1. having a surface that feels rough and hard rather than smooth and soft, or made

1.形容詞B1
釋義

having a surface that feels rough and hard rather than smooth and soft, or made up of large, uneven pieces — used to describe fabric, sand, hair, skin, or other materials that are not fine or delicate

例句

Christopher's work boots had a coarse outer surface that scraped against the wooden floor.

coarse + surface (collocation for texture)

The cat's tongue felt surprisingly coarse against Lan's arm.

feel coarse (linking verb + adjective pattern)

同義詞
  • rough

    more common and general; 'rough' can describe any uneven surface, while 'coarse' emphasizes large particles or a harsh texture

  • scratchy

    uncomfortably rough against the skin, typically for fabric or wool

  • gritty

    full of tiny hard pieces; more specific than 'coarse', often for sand or food

反義詞
  • smooth

    the most direct opposite — having an even surface without roughness

  • fine

    made of very small particles; the opposite of 'coarse' for powders, sand, or hair

用法筆記

Frequently used to describe the texture of natural materials (sand, bark, wool, hair) or processed materials (fabric, salt, powder). Common opposites include 'smooth', 'fine', and 'soft'.

常見錯誤

❌The baby's skin felt coarse.
✅The old gardener's hands felt coarse from years of outdoor work.
💡'coarse' for skin is only natural when roughness is expected, not for something normally soft.

2. talking or behaving in a way that other people find rude, offensive, or socially

2.形容詞B2
釋義

talking or behaving in a way that other people find rude, offensive, or socially unacceptable, especially when this involves sex or the body in an unpleasant way

例句

Gabriela left the room after her colleague made a coarse joke about the new manager.

coarse joke (common collocation)

The coach warned the players that coarse language would not be tolerated during practice.

coarse language (common collocation)

同義詞
  • vulgar

    very similar in meaning but 'vulgar' more strongly suggests a focus on sex or bodily functions in a way that offends good taste

  • crude

    simple and offensive; 'crude' can also mean not carefully made, while 'coarse' in this sense always refers to behaviour or speech

  • obscene

    much stronger and more offensive than 'coarse'; 'obscene' describes something that shocks and disgusts people

反義詞
  • refined

    showing good education, manners, and taste — the direct opposite of a coarse person or remark

  • polite

    having good manners and showing respect for others in social situations

用法筆記

This sense carries a strong negative judgment. It is stronger than 'rude' — 'coarse' implies not just bad manners but a lack of basic refinement or decency. Often used to describe jokes, language, and behaviour related to sex.

常見錯誤

❌The customer was coarse to the waiter.
✅The customer was rude to the waiter.
💡'coarse' describes the type of language or behaviour (vulgar, crude), not the general attitude of being impolite to someone.
❌His coarse voice hurt my ears.
✅His coarse language upset the other guests.
💡'coarse' is not used for voice quality; use 'harsh' or 'rough' for sound.