Translation guide
The English word "bad" covers a wide range of negative qualities. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is bad: poor quality, lack of skill, unfavorable situations, moral wrongness, spoiled food, harmful effects, and more. This guide breaks down the main meanings and their natural Japanese equivalents.
Describing something that is not good in quality, performance, or condition.
The most general word for 'bad'. Can be used for quality, condition, weather, luck, etc.
このレストランはサービスが悪い。
This restaurant has bad service.
今日は天気が悪いですね。
The weather is bad today, isn't it?
Emphasizes that something is terrible or awful, stronger than 悪い.
Means 'no good', 'unacceptable', or 'not up to standard'. Often used in casual speech.
このスマホ、もうダメだ。
This smartphone is no good anymore.
Describing someone who is not good at doing something.
The standard word for being unskillful or poor at something. Often used with が.
Describing a situation, outcome, or condition that is not good or desirable.
Describing a person, action, or behavior that is morally bad.
Can be used for moral badness, though often softened in direct accusations.
Describing food that has gone bad and is no longer edible.
The past tense of 腐る (to rot), used as an adjective meaning 'rotten' or 'spoiled'.
この牛乳は腐っている。
This milk has gone bad.
Means 'damaged' or 'gone off', often used for food that is starting to spoil but not completely rotten.
Describing something that is bad for one's health or well-being.
Describing a bad physical condition or feeling sick.
Means 'feeling bad/unwell', often used for nausea or general discomfort.
気分が悪いので、休みます。
I feel bad, so I'll rest.
Expressing that one feels bad about something they did.
Means 'I feel bad (about it)'. Often used to express guilt or regret.
遅れて、悪いと思っています。
I feel bad for being late.
When saying someone is bad at something, do not use 悪い (warui). Use 下手 (heta) or 苦手 (nigate). Saying 彼は英語が悪い (kare wa eigo ga warui) is unnatural; it sounds like his English is morally wrong or of poor quality, not that he lacks skill.
下手 (heta) is a straightforward statement of low skill. 苦手 (nigate) implies a personal difficulty or dislike, and is often softer. You can be 苦手 at something even if you are objectively okay at it, just because you don't like it.
In casual speech, just saying 悪い (warui) can mean 'my bad' or 'sorry'. It's very informal and mostly used by men.
This movie is really bad.
私は料理が下手です。
I am bad at cooking.
Means 'not good at' but often implies a personal dislike or lack of confidence, not just lack of skill.
数学は苦手です。
I'm bad at math (and I don't like it).
A very casual and somewhat rude way to say someone is terrible at something.
あいつは運転が下手くそだ。
That guy is a terrible driver.
Again, the general word. Can be used for bad timing, bad luck, bad influence, etc.
それは悪い知らせだ。
That's bad news.
タイミングが悪かった。
The timing was bad.
Means 'bad' in the sense of being awkward, inconvenient, or problematic.
まずいことになった。
Things have gotten bad (we're in trouble).
Specifically means 'inconvenient' or 'bad timing' for someone's schedule.
明日は都合が悪いです。
Tomorrow is bad for me (I'm not available).
嘘をつくのは悪いことだ。
Lying is a bad thing.
Means 'malicious' or 'vicious', used for bad behavior or quality with intent to harm.
悪質な詐欺
a bad (malicious) fraud
Means 'evil' or 'wicked', a strong word for profound moral badness.
邪悪な計画
an evil plan
傷んだ野菜を捨てた。
I threw away the vegetables that had gone bad.
Means 'harmful' or 'toxic', used in more formal or technical contexts.
有害な化学物質
harmful chemical substances
Similar to 気分が悪い, but can also refer to a machine not working well. For people, it means 'not feeling well'.
今日は具合が悪いです。
I'm feeling bad today.
A more formal and stronger expression of feeling bad or sorry, often used in apologies.
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
I feel very bad for causing you trouble.