Meaning
Whether you are talking about a villain in a movie or simply saying the weather is "bad," 悪 is your go-to kanji. For N4 learners, this character is a staple for describing negative quality, physical illness, or moral wrongdoing. It effectively covers the entire spectrum of negativity, from a minor inconvenience to pure evil.
Look at the character's structure to understand its origin. The top part 亜 historically represented something inferior or "sub-standard." When placed over the radical 心 (heart), it creates a literal image of a "crooked heart" or a heart that is not quite right. This combination evolved to represent the concept of being wicked or bad.
This 11-stroke kanji is taught in the 3rd grade of Japanese elementary school. Mastering the balance between the wide top structure and the stabilizing heart radical at the bottom is key to writing it neatly.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The standard on'yomi reading is アク (AKU). You will find this reading in formal compound words (jukugo) that discuss abstract concepts like crime, deterioration, or serious moral flaws.
- 悪人 (akunin) — A villain or evil person.
- 最悪 (saiaku) — The worst; the most unpleasant situation.
- 悪化 (akka) — Deterioration; things getting worse (like the weather or a patient's health).
A secondary reading is オ (O). While rare at the N4 level, it appears in specific words related to hatred. A common example is 嫌悪 (ken'o), which means hatred or strong disgust.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary native reading is わる.い (warui). This is one of the most common adjectives in Japanese. It evaluates everything from a student's grades to a person's character.
- 悪い (warui) — Bad, poor quality, or wrong.
- 悪口 (waruguchi) — Slander or speaking ill of someone behind their back.
- 悪者 (warumono) — The "bad guy" in a story or situation.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 悪 shifts its meaning slightly depending on the words it combines with. Here are some categories to help you remember them:
Physical States & Environment:
- 悪天候 (akutenkou) — Bad weather (often heard in news or airport announcements).
- 悪臭 (akushu) — A foul odor or stench.
- 悪路 (akuro) — A bumpy or poorly maintained road.
Behavior & Character:
- 意地悪 (ijiwaru) — Being mean-spirited or unkind.
- 悪戯 (itazura) — Mischief, pranks, or child-like tricks.
- 悪用 (akuyou) — Misusing or abusing something, such as personal data.
Feelings & Luck:
- 気分が悪い (kibun ga warui) — To feel sick, nauseous, or generally unwell.
- 運が悪い (un ga warui) — Unlucky; having a stroke of bad luck.
Example Sentences
今日は天気が悪いから、家にいます。
kyou wa tenki ga warui kara, ie ni imasu.
Since the weather is bad today, I'm staying home.
このレストランの料理は、そんなに悪くないです。
kono resutoran no ryouri wa, sonna ni warukunai desu.
The food at this restaurant isn't that bad.
SNSで他人の悪口を書くのはやめましょう。
SNS de tanin no waruguchi wo kaku no wa yamemashou.
Let's stop writing mean things about others on social media.
昨日からずっと気分が悪いです。
kinou kara zutto kibun ga warui desu.
I have been feeling sick since yesterday.
彼はいつも弟に意地悪をします。
kare wa itsumo otouto ni ijiwaru wo shimasu.
He is always being mean to his younger brother.
風邪の症状が悪化してしまいました。
kaze no shoujou ga akka shite shimaimashita.
My cold symptoms have unfortunately gotten worse.
映画の最後に悪役が負けました。
eiga no saigo ni akuyaku ga makemashita.
The villain lost at the end of the movie.
準備をしなかったので、最悪の結果になった。
junbi wo shinakatta node, saiaku no kekka ni natta.
I didn't prepare, so it turned out to be the worst possible result.
人を騙すのは悪いことです。
hito wo damasu no wa warui koto desu.
Deceiving people is a bad thing to do.
悪いけど、ちょっと手伝ってくれる？
warui kedo, chotto tetsudatte kureru?
Sorry to bother you, but could you help me out for a second?
Related Kanji
- 短 — Short, brief, defect (Kanji N4)
- 暗 — Dark, Darkness, Gloomy (Kanji N4)
- 広 — Wide, Broad, Spacious (Kanji N4)
- 暑 — Hot (Weather), Heat (Kanji N4)
- 寒 — Cold, Chilly, Winter (Kanji N4)
- 急 — Hurry, Sudden, Emergency (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Visualize the bottom part 心 (heart) being weighed down by a heavy, squashed box (亜) on top. When someone's heart is under pressure or distorted, they become bad or mean. Another way to remember it is that 亜 looks like a flat, secondary structure—a heart that is "second-rate" or not "upright" is an evil heart.