険けん悪あく

け

ん

あ

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Describes a situation, atmosphere, or relationship that feels threatening, unstable, or likely to turn bad. Often used with 空気, 情勢, 関係, 雰囲気.

会かい議ぎの雰ふん囲い気きが険けん悪あくになった。
The atmosphere of the meeting became tense.
両りょう国こくの関かん係けいは険けん悪あくな状じょう態たいが続つづいている。
Relations between the two countries remain in a critical state.

na-adjective, noun

stern; hostile; harsh; sharp

Used for facial expressions, attitudes, or tones that are unfriendly, severe, or confrontational. Common with 表情, 態度, 口調.

彼かれは険けん悪あくな表ひょう情じょうで私わたしをにらんだ。
He glared at me with a hostile expression.
険けん悪あくな口く調ちょうで文もん句くを言いわれた。
I was complained to in a harsh tone.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が険けん悪あくになるfor a situation or relationship to turn tense/hostile
二人ふたりの関かん係けいが険けん悪あくになった。
The relationship between the two turned hostile.
険けん悪あくな表ひょう情じょうa stern, hostile facial expression
彼かれは険けん悪あくな表ひょう情じょうで私わたしを見みた。
He looked at me with a hostile expression.
険けん悪あくな雰ふん囲い気きa tense, hostile atmosphere
会かい議ぎ室しつには険けん悪あくな雰ふん囲い気きが流ながれていた。
A tense atmosphere hung over the meeting room.
険けん悪あくな口く調ちょうa harsh, confrontational tone of voice
彼かの女じょは険けん悪あくな口く調ちょうで反はん論ろんした。
She retorted in a harsh tone.
険けん悪あくな関かん係けいa hostile, strained relationship
隣りん国ごくとの険けん悪あくな関かん係けいが長ながく続つづいている。
The hostile relationship with the neighboring country has continued for a long time.

Kanji

険precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position
悪bad, vice, rascal

Related words

不ふ穏おんN1sense 1
不穏 describes a vague, unsettling sense of unrest (often social or political), while 険悪 points to a sharper, more directly confrontational tension.
危き険けんN4sense 1
危険 means physically dangerous or risky, whereas 険悪 focuses on a tense, hostile atmosphere or attitude rather than physical danger.
緊きん迫ぱくN1sense 1
緊迫 emphasizes a situation being strained to the breaking point, while 険悪 adds a note of open hostility or ill will.
不ふ和わ sense 1
不和 is a more neutral, formal term for discord between people, while 険悪 conveys a visibly hostile, on-edge mood.

Opposites

円えん満まんN1sense 1
円満 describes a relationship or situation as harmonious and peaceful, the opposite of the tense hostility of 険悪.
和わ気きあいあいN1
険悪 describes a tense, hostile atmosphere, the opposite of the warm, friendly mood conveyed by 和気あいあい.
和なごやかN1
険悪 describes a tense, hostile atmosphere, the opposite of the warm, relaxed feeling conveyed by 和やか.

Don't confuse with

険けわしいN2
険しい (steep, harsh) shares the kanji 険 with 険悪 but describes terrain or a severe look/manner rather than an overall hostile atmosphere or relationship.
醜しゅう悪あく
険悪 describes a tense, hostile atmosphere or relationship, while 醜悪 describes something ugly or morally disgraceful; the two share the kanji 悪 but differ in meaning.

Written forms

険けん悪あくUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
ケンアクUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 険 (steep, severe, dangerous) and 悪 (bad, evil). The combination conveys a sense of severe and hostile conditions, originally describing treacherous terrain, later extended to social and emotional states.