Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

悪事千里を行く (あくじせんりをいく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

悪あく事じ千せん里りを行いく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (iku/yuku class)

bad news travels fast

proverb

Proverb meaning that bad deeds or scandals quickly become widely known. Often contrasted with the idea that good deeds go unnoticed.

See also: 悪事千里を走る

悪あく事じ千せん里りを行いくというから、あの不ふ祥しょう事じもすぐに全ぜん国こくに知しれ渡わたった

。

As they say, bad news travels fast, so that scandal quickly became known nationwide.

Kanji

悪bad, vice, rascal
事matter, thing, fact
千thousand
里ri, village, parent's home
行going, journey, carry out

Similar words

悪あく事じ千せん里りを走はしる
Variant of the same proverb using 走る instead of 行く; meaning is identical.
好こう事じ門もんを出いでず悪あく事じ千せん里りを行いく
Fuller version of the proverb: 'Good deeds stay at home; bad deeds travel a thousand miles.'

Etymology

A classical Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common folk observation that scandals spread quickly.