Translation guide
How to express the idea of 'good or bad' in Japanese, covering quality, morality, outcomes, and binary evaluation.
good or bad (quality)
To ask or state whether something is good or bad in terms of quality, skill, or value.
The most direct and common way to say 'good or bad'. Used for evaluating quality, decisions, or outcomes.
Tell me if this movie is good or bad.
I don't know yet whether the result is good or bad.
A slightly more formal or written version of いいか悪いか. 良い (よい) is the formal form of いい.
A noun meaning 'good and bad' or 'merits and demerits'. Often used in set phrases like 善し悪しを判断する (judge the good and bad).
To talk about whether an action or person is morally good or bad.
To express that an outcome could be good or bad, often with uncertainty.
Means 'for better or worse', 'good or bad'. Used when an outcome has both positive and negative aspects.
To ask a simple yes/no question about whether something is good or bad.
A polite way to ask 'Is it good or bad?' in a direct question.
Simply saying 良い悪い (よいわるい) without か or も sounds unnatural. Use 良いか悪いか or 良くも悪くも.
Judge whether it's good or bad.
We need to consider whether this plan is good or bad.
物事には善し悪しがある。
Everything has its good and bad sides.
Judge for yourself whether what he did was good or bad.
A more abstract, philosophical way to say 'good or evil'. 善 (ぜん) means 'good/virtue', 悪 (あく) means 'evil/badness'.
The debate over whether human nature is good or evil has existed since ancient times.
For better or worse, his influence is significant.
Literally 'a good result or a bad result'. More explicit than いいか悪いか when focusing on outcomes.
We won't know if this choice will lead to a good or bad outcome until later.
Is this taste good or bad?
Casual spoken form, often used when seeking a quick judgment.
So, is it good or bad after all?
いい is the colloquial form of 良い (よい). In formal writing or speech, 良い is preferred. いい is more common in everyday conversation.