悪
悪·bad, evil
- On-yomi
- アクオ
- Kun-yomi
- わる(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 悪い | わるい | bad |
| 悪口 | わるぐち | bad-mouthing, insults |
| 最悪 | さいあく | the worst |
| 悪人 | あくにん | a bad person, villain |
Example sentences
今日は天気が悪いですね。
きょうはてんきがわるいですね。
The weather is bad today, isn't it?
人の悪口を言ってはいけません。
ひとのわるぐちをいってはいけません。
You must not say bad things about people.
電車が止まって、最悪でした。
でんしゃがとまって、さいあくでした。
The train stopped — it was the worst.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 悪口 as *あくこう instead of わるぐち
- Taking 気分が悪い as anger — it means feeling unwell or queasy
Memory aid
Picture it
A heart (心) squeezed under a heavy lid (亜) turns bad.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 気分が悪いきぶんがわるいto feel sick
- 悪いわるいbad
- 気持ち悪いきもちわるいunpleasant, sick
- 悪口わるくちabuse, insult, slander, speaking ill of someone
- 悪魔あくまdevil, demon, evil spirit
- 意地悪いじわるmean, spiteful
- 悪化するあっかするto worsen
- 口が悪いくちがわるいsharp-tongued
- 悪性あくせいmalignant
- 善悪ぜんあくgood and evil
- 劣悪れつあくinferior, poor (conditions)
- 粗悪そあくcrude, inferior (quality)
Quick check
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What does the kanji 悪 mean?