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人が悪い (ひとがわるい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, i-adjective
ill-natured ; mean ; mischievous
Describes a person's character as unkind, nasty, or teasing in a way that makes others uncomfortable. Often used when someone enjoys playing mean-spirited tricks or says something hurtful with a smile.
そんな こと を 笑わら い ながら 言い う なんて 、 人ひと が 悪わる い よ 。
Saying something like that with a smile is really mean.
Similar words 意い 地じ 悪わる 意地悪 is a more common and direct word for 'mean' or 'spiteful', while 人が悪い is a set phrase that describes a person's fundamental nature as ill-natured or mischievous.
性せい 格かく が 悪わる い 性格が悪い is a straightforward statement that someone has a bad personality, whereas 人が悪い carries a nuance of enjoying teasing or being unkind in a playful but hurtful way.
Etymology A set phrase combining 人 (person) and 悪い (bad), literally 'person is bad'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used idiomatically to describe a person's ill-natured character.
