also: あっこう · あくこう
misdeed; wrongdoing; wickedness
Refers to an evil or immoral act. Often used in formal, literary, or religious contexts. Antonym: 善行 (good deed).
Antonyms: 善行
In his youth, he committed many misdeeds.
He regretted his past misdeeds.
悪行は必ず報いを受ける。
Wrongdoing will inevitably be punished.
After repeatedly committing wrongdoings, she was arrested.
Someday, he will face the consequences of his misdeeds.
good deed; good conduct; benevolence
犯罪 refers specifically to an act that breaks the law, whereas 悪行 is a broader moral term for wickedness that may or may not be illegal.
Standard kanji spelling and most common reading.
Obsolete reading; not used in modern Japanese.
Obsolete reading; not used in modern Japanese.
Alternate kanji spelling, less common. 業 can imply karmic misdeeds in Buddhist contexts.
Compound of 悪 (aku, 'evil') and 行 (gyō, 'action'). The reading あくぎょう is the standard on'yomi combination. The alternate kanji 悪業 uses 業 (gyō, 'karma/deed'), emphasizing karmic consequences.