悪
bad · vice · rascal · false · evil · wrong
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: 亜 + heart
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sub (亜) and heart (心). State of distorted heart.
Symbolism
Evil, wicked, bad. '悪' is not always absolute evil - context matters.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Tale of good triumphing over evil
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
悪因悪果
あくいんあっか
sow evil and reap evil; evil acts bring evil outcomes; sow evil and reap evil
悪逆無道
あくぎゃくむどう
treacherous; heinous; treasonous; treacherous
悪口雑言
あっこうぞうごん
all kinds of malicious gossip; heaping verbal abuse (on); cursing and swearing (words); all kinds of malicious gossip
悪戦苦闘
あくせんくとう
hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds; hard fighting
勧善懲悪
かんぜんちょうあく
rewarding good and punishing evil; poetic justice; rewarding good and punishing evil
自己嫌悪
じこけんお
self-hatred; self-abhorrence; self-loathing; self-hatred
悪衣悪食
あくいあくしょく
shabby clothes and plain foods; shabby clothes and plain foods
悪事千里
あくじせんり
bad news traveling fast; ill news spreading like wildfire; bad news traveling fast
極悪非道
ごくあくひどう
inhuman; heinous; atrocious; inhuman
悪逆非道
あくぎゃくひどう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious; heinous
悪人正機
あくにんしょうき
The evil persons are the right object of Amida's salvation; The evil persons have the unique opportunity to go to heaven; The evil persons are the right object of Amida's salvation
悪木盗泉
あくぼくとうせん
a virtuous person should not commit an act that offends their moral principles no matter how hard pressed they may be; a virtuous person should not commit an act that offends their moral principles no matter how hard pressed they may be
是非善悪
ぜひぜんあく
rights and wrongs; the relative merits (of a case); propriety; rights and wrongs
Proverbs & Idioms
悪事千里を走る
あくじせんりをはしる
Bad news travels fast
Rumors of wrongdoing spread quickly
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 悪 mean in Japanese?
悪 means bad, vice, rascal, false, evil, wrong.
How do you read 悪?
On'yomi: アク、オ (AKU, O). Kun'yomi: わる.い、わる-、あ.し、にく.い、-にく.い、ああ、いずくに、いずくんぞ、にく.む (warui, waru, ashi, nikui, nikui, aa, izukuni, izukunzo, nikumu).
How many strokes does 悪 have?
悪 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).
Is 悪 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 悪 (bad, vice, rascal, false, evil, wrong) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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