柄がらが悪わるい

also: ガラがわるい

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

Describes a person's rough, uncouth, or low-class manner, appearance, or speech. Often used in casual, judgmental contexts.

Written forms

柄がらが悪わるい
Standard kanji spelling using 柄 for 'character' or 'disposition'.
ガラが悪わるい
Katakana spelling emphasizing the colloquial or slangy feel; common in informal writing.
がらが悪わるい
Kana-only spelling, often used when the kanji 柄 is considered difficult or unnecessary.
ガラがわるい

Kanji

悪bad, vice, rascal
柄design, pattern, build

Similar words

下げ品ひん
下品 is a more formal, direct adjective meaning 'vulgar' or 'crude,' while 柄が悪い is a colloquial phrase focusing on a person's overall rough or low-class character.
品ひんがない
品がない also means 'lacking refinement,' but it is a slightly more neutral statement about elegance, whereas 柄が悪い carries a stronger connotation of ill-breeding and roughness.

Etymology

The phrase combines 柄 (がら, 'character, disposition') with 悪い (わるい, 'bad'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a natural collocation in modern Japanese.