Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'bad habit' depends on whether you mean a personal vice, an annoying mannerism, a social failing, or a recurring mistake. The most common word is 悪癖 (あくへき), but other terms like 悪習 (あくしゅう) for societal bad habits or 癖 (くせ) for personal quirks are also used. This guide helps you choose the right expression.
Referring to a personal bad habit like smoking, nail-biting, or procrastination.
The most direct and common translation for a personal bad habit. It implies a negative behavior that is hard to break.
彼は悪癖が多くて、なかなか直らない。
He has many bad habits and can't seem to break them.
喫煙は悪癖だ。
Smoking is a bad habit.
A more colloquial phrase meaning 'bad habit'. It's less formal than 悪癖 and often used in everyday speech.
爪を噛むのは悪い癖だよ。
Biting your nails is a bad habit.
Means 'habit' or 'mannerism'. When used alone, it can be neutral or negative depending on context. Often used for unconscious habits.
Not always negative; can refer to any habitual behavior. Use 悪い癖 or 悪癖 to explicitly convey 'bad'.
貧乏ゆすりは彼の癖だ。
Shaking his leg is a habit of his.
Describing a physical or verbal tic that bothers others, like fidgeting or interrupting.
Often used for unconscious, repetitive actions. The negativity is implied by context or adjectives.
話すときに髪を触る癖がある。
She has a habit of touching her hair when she talks.
Explicitly labels the mannerism as bad.
人の話を遮るのは悪い癖だ。
Interrupting people is a bad habit.
Referring to a bad custom or practice in society, like corruption or littering.
Refers to a bad custom or social evil. More formal and often used in written contexts.
賄賂はこの国の悪習だ。
Bribery is a bad custom in this country.
Literary term for a corrupt or evil custom. Rare in everyday speech.
悪風を一掃する。
To sweep away evil customs.
Describing a pattern of making the same error, like grammatical mistakes or poor judgment.
Used for habitual mistakes or tendencies, often in self-reflection.
すぐに諦めるのが私の悪い癖だ。
Giving up easily is my bad habit.
Can also be used for ingrained bad tendencies, but slightly more formal.
先延ばしは私の悪癖です。
Procrastination is my bad habit.
悪癖 (あくへき) is for personal bad habits, while 悪習 (あくしゅう) is for societal or institutional bad customs. Using 悪習 for a personal habit sounds overly dramatic.
In casual conversation, 悪い癖 (わるいくせ) is more natural than 悪癖 (あくへき), which can sound stiff. Reserve 悪癖 for formal or written contexts.