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.
This restaurant has bad service.
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.
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.
Again, the general word. Can be used for bad timing, bad luck, bad influence, etc.
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'.
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.
Expressing that one feels bad about something they did.
Means 'I feel bad (about it)'. Often used to express guilt or regret.
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.
The weather is bad today, isn't it?
This movie is really bad.
This smartphone is no good anymore.
I am bad at cooking.
Means 'not good at' but often implies a personal dislike or lack of confidence, not just lack of skill.
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.
That guy is a terrible driver.
That's bad news.
The timing was bad.
Means 'bad' in the sense of being awkward, inconvenient, or problematic.
Things have gotten bad (we're in trouble).
Specifically means 'inconvenient' or 'bad timing' for someone's schedule.
Tomorrow is bad for me (I'm not available).
Lying is a bad thing.
Means 'malicious' or 'vicious', used for bad behavior or quality with intent to harm.
a bad (malicious) fraud
Means 'evil' or 'wicked', a strong word for profound moral badness.
an evil plan
This milk has gone bad.
Means 'damaged' or 'gone off', often used for food that is starting to spoil but not completely rotten.
I threw away the vegetables that had gone bad.
Means 'harmful' or 'toxic', used in more formal or technical contexts.
harmful chemical substances
I feel bad, so I'll rest.
Similar to 気分が悪い, but can also refer to a machine not working well. For people, it means 'not feeling well'.
I'm feeling bad today.
I feel bad for being late.
A more formal and stronger expression of feeling bad or sorry, often used in apologies.
I feel very bad for causing you trouble.