悪
bad, vice, rascal, false, evil, wrong
Readings
On'yomi
- アク
- オ
Kun'yomi
- わる.い
- わる-
- あ.し
- にく.い
- -にく.い
- ああ
- いずくに
- いずくんぞ
- にく.む
Meaning
悪 centers on moral or qualitative wrongness: something bad, evil, or false. It extends naturally to a person who embodies that wrongness, like a rascal or villain.
Most common words using 悪
24 of 491- 悪いわるいN5
bad; poor; undesirable
- 最悪さいあくN3
worst
- 悪魔あくまN3
devil; demon; fiend
- 悪化あっかN2
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
- 悪質あくしつN1
malicious; vicious; malignant; underhanded
- 悪口わるぐちN3
(verbal) abuse; speaking ill of people; bad-mouthing; name-calling; slander; abusive language; insulting remarks
- 悪口あっこうN1
(verbal) abuse; name-calling; abusive language; insulting remarks
- 悪夢あくむN1
nightmare; bad dream
- 悪意あくいN1
ill will; spite; evil intention; malice
- 悪戯いたずらN3
mischief; prank; trick; practical joke
- 嫌悪けんおN1
disgust; hate; repugnance; loathing
- 悪影響あくえいきょう
bad influence; negative influence
- 悪役あくやく
villain; baddie; the villain's part
- 凶悪きょうあく
atrocious; heinous; fiendish; brutal; vicious
- 悪人あくにんN1
bad person; villain; scoundrel; wrongdoer; wicked person
- 憎悪ぞうおN1
hatred; abhorrence; loathing; detestation
- 悪用あくようN1
abuse; misuse; perversion
- 悪徳あくとく
vice; immorality; corruption
- 悪者わるものN1
bad guy; villain; evildoer; scoundrel
- 悪事あくじN1
evil deed; wrongdoing; crime; vice
- 悪あくN2
evil; wickedness
- 意地悪いじわるN3
malicious; ill-tempered; unkind; mean; nasty
- 善悪ぜんあくN1
right and wrong; good and evil
- 悪性あくせい
malignant (cancer); virulent; pernicious (anemia, anaemia)
Study
Etymology
悪 is the modern simplified form of 惡. The older form combines 亞 (likely contributing sound) with 心 (heart/mind), suggesting a twisted or bad heart. The modern 亜 is a simplification of 亞.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 亜 looks like a crooked, blocked shape, and the bottom 心 is the heart. Picture a twisted heart producing bad, evil thoughts.
Reading mnemonic
For アク, imagine an evil act so bad it makes you say 'ack!' in disgust: ack -> アク, and the twisted heart 悪 is behind it.