義理が悪い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 義理が悪い | 義理が悪くない |
| Polite | 義理が悪いです | 義理が悪くないですalso 義理が悪くありません |
| Past polite | 義理が悪かったです | 義理が悪くなかったですalso 義理が悪くありませんでした |
| Past | 義理が悪かった | 義理が悪くなかった |
| Te-form | 義理が悪くて | 義理が悪くなくて |
| Adverbial | 義理が悪く | |
| Conditional | 義理が悪ければ | 義理が悪くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 義理が悪かったら | 義理が悪くなかったら |
failing in one's duty; being ungrateful; lacking a sense of obligation
Used when someone fails to meet social or moral obligations, especially toward someone who has helped them. Often implies ingratitude or neglect of reciprocal duty.
あの人に義理が悪いことをしてしまった。
I did something that failed in my duty to that person.
彼は義理が悪いから、恩を仇で返すようなことはしない。
He has a strong sense of obligation, so he would never repay kindness with ingratitude.
恩知らず is a stronger, more direct term for 'ungrateful person'; 義理が悪い is a milder, more situational expression about failing to meet obligations.
Compound of 義理 (duty, obligation) + が (subject marker) + 悪い (bad). The phrase literally means 'duty is bad', idiomatically meaning one's sense of duty is lacking.