also: さんなく · さんまく
three evil realms; three lower worlds
Buddhist term, often an abbreviation of 三悪道. Refers to the three lower realms of rebirth: hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. Used in doctrinal or literary contexts.
See also: 三悪道 (さんあくどう)
three social evils
Only with reading さんあく
Refers specifically to prostitution, drugs, and venereal diseases as social ills. This usage is limited to the reading さんあく and is not common in everyday conversation.
In Buddhism, it is taught that one should accumulate good deeds so as not to fall into the three evil realms.
In the chaotic post-war period, social problems called the three evils became more serious.
three evil realms; three lower realms
Standard kanji spelling; the reading さんあく is the most common.
Rare reading; may appear in older Buddhist texts.
Rare reading; may appear in older Buddhist texts.
From 三 (three) + 悪 (evil). The Buddhist sense is an abbreviation of 三悪道. The social sense is a modern application of the same characters.