Translation guide
The English word "notorious" describes someone or something famous for a bad reason. In Japanese, there is no single perfect equivalent; the best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a bad reputation, being well-known (often negatively), or being infamous. This guide covers common words and phrases to express these nuances naturally.
Describing a person, place, or thing widely known for negative reasons.
The most direct translation. Literally 'bad-name-high', it means 'infamous' or 'notorious'. Used for people, places, or events with a strongly negative reputation.
彼は悪名高い犯罪者だ。
He is a notorious criminal.
That area was a notorious slum.
Means 'famous' or 'well-known'. Often neutral, but context can imply notoriety. Use with negative context words to make the bad reputation clear.
Without negative context, 有名な simply means 'famous' in a positive or neutral sense.
彼は汚職で有名な政治家だ。
He is a politician notorious for corruption.
A slightly more formal or emphatic variant of 悪名高い, literally 'bad reputation is high'. Used in similar contexts.
この街は犯罪率の高さで悪名が高い。
This city is notorious for its high crime rate.
A literary phrase meaning 'to gain notoriety' or 'to make one's name infamous'. Used in writing or formal speech.
彼は冷酷な独裁者として悪名を馳せた。
He gained notoriety as a ruthless dictator.
Describing someone or something commonly known for a particular bad habit, characteristic, or action.
Means 'known for ~'. When combined with a negative noun or phrase, it conveys notoriety naturally.
彼は遅刻で知られている。
He is notorious for being late.
その会社は悪質な商法で知られる。
That company is notorious for its shady business practices.
Similar to ～で知られる but slightly more casual. 'Famous for ~' with negative context implies notoriety.
あのレストランはサービスが悪いので有名だ。
That restaurant is notorious for its bad service.
Literally 'famous in a bad way'. A clear, colloquial way to express notoriety without using advanced vocabulary.
あの先生は厳しすぎるので悪い意味で有名だ。
That teacher is notorious for being too strict.
Referring to a historical event, crime, or scandal that is widely remembered for its negative impact.
Works for events as well as people. See above.
それは歴史上最も悪名高い事件の一つだ。
It is one of the most notorious incidents in history.
Means 'famous' or 'renowned', but often used in set phrases like 名高い事件 (notorious case). Can be neutral or negative depending on context.
その名高い殺人事件は未解決のままだ。
That notorious murder case remains unsolved.
English speakers often want a one-word Japanese equivalent for 'notorious', but 悪名高い can sound stiff or overly formal in casual conversation. In many cases, using ～で有名 or ～で知られる with negative context is more natural.
悪名高い explicitly means 'infamous', while 有名な is neutral 'famous'. Use 悪名高い when the negative reputation is the main point. Use 有名な when the fact of being well-known is more important, and add negative context words (e.g., 悪い意味で, 悪質な) if needed.
その街は交通渋滞で悪名高い。
The city is notorious for its traffic jams.
悪名高い works well for a widely recognized negative feature.