Translation guide
The concept of moral corruption, wickedness, or extreme immorality. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns describing the state or act, adjectives for character, and idiomatic phrases. The most common and versatile term is 堕落 (daraku), which covers moral decline and corruption in a broad sense.
To describe a state of moral decline, corruption, or loss of virtue in a person, society, or behavior.
The most common and versatile term for moral depravity, corruption, or degeneracy. Can refer to personal moral decline, societal decay, or a lifestyle of vice.
His depraved lifestyle worried those around him.
The depravity of power has been repeatedly shown throughout history.
Refers to decadence, degeneracy, or corruption, often with a nuance of cultural or moral decay. Common in literary or critical contexts.
The novel depicts the depravity of the city.
Variant kanji for 退廃, meaning decadence or degeneracy. Rarely used; 退廃 is preferred.
A depraved culture.
To emphasize inherent evil, wickedness, or a depraved character.
Means wickedness, evil, or depravity in the sense of a fundamentally evil nature. Stronger than 堕落 and often used for villains or heinous acts.
His depraved scheme caused suffering to many people.
Means heinous, atrocious, or extremely wicked. Often used in compounds like 極悪非道 (atrocious and inhuman).
Refers to cunning wickedness or depravity. Rare and literary.
To describe sexual immorality, perversion, or deviance.
Means perversion or abnormality, especially in a psychological or sexual sense. Often used in clinical or descriptive contexts.
The novel contains many depictions of sexual depravity.
Colloquial term for pervert or sexual deviant. Can be used humorously or pejoratively. Not as formal as 倒錯.
Means lewdness or sexual depravity, often implying promiscuity. Strongly negative and somewhat dated.
To describe systemic moral decay, corruption, or rot within institutions.
Primarily means corruption, decay, or rot. Used for political corruption, moral decay, or literal decomposition. Very common in news and formal contexts.
The depravity of the government caused the people to lose trust.
Also used for institutional moral decline, though more commonly for personal depravity.
To express the condition of having fallen from a higher moral or spiritual state.
Literally means a fall or crash, but can metaphorically refer to a moral fall or degradation. Less common for depravity; more often used for physical falls.
His life followed a path of depravity.
堕落 (daraku) is the most general term for moral depravity or corruption of an individual or group. 退廃 (taihai) emphasizes cultural or aesthetic decadence, often used in literary criticism. 腐敗 (fuhai) strongly implies systemic corruption, like political or institutional rot, and also means physical decay.
Direct translations like 堕落 or 退廃 can sound overly formal or literary in everyday conversation. For casual contexts, consider rephrasing with simpler terms like ひどい (terrible) or 最低 (the worst) to describe a person's actions, or use specific words like 変態 for sexual deviance.
その犯罪は極悪非道な行為だった。
The crime was an act of utter depravity.
A depraved scheme.
彼は変態的な趣味を持っている。
He has depraved tastes.
淫乱な行為。
Depraved acts.
The depravity of an organization starts from within.