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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He is notorious for being late.
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.
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.
Referring to a historical event, crime, or scandal that is widely remembered for its negative impact.
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.
The city is notorious for its traffic jams.
悪名高い works well for a widely recognized negative feature.
That teacher is notorious for being too strict.
その名高い殺人事件は未解決のままだ。
That notorious murder case remains unsolved.