How to say "bad" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 悪いわるいi-adjectiveThe default word for 'bad' in most senses: undesirable conditions, situations, or quality. If you are unsure which word to pick, this is usually the safe choice.
- i-adjectiveSpecifically bad-tasting or unpalatable food and drink. It usually appears written in kana alone. Not the word for bad in general — it is about flavour.
- 不良ふりょうno-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers bad in the sense of poor, inferior, or defective, as in faulty products or malfunctioning parts. A noun-like word rather than the everyday adjective for bad things generally.
- 不可ふかno-adjective, na-adjective, noun (suffix)Bad in the sense of wrong or improper as a judgment or rating, such as a failing mark on an exam. It labels something unacceptable rather than describing quality.
- 行けないいけないexpression, i-adjectiveBad or wrong in the sense of naughty behaviour, often used when scolding someone, especially a child. It is really 'must not go / that won't do' repurposed, not a general adjective for bad.
Use 「悪い」 for the general sense of bad, 「まずい」 for bad-tasting food, 不良 for defective or inferior goods, 不可 for a failing grade or judgment of wrongness, and 「行けない」 for telling someone their behaviour is bad.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 悪いわるいbad
- まずいbad(-tasting)
- 不良ふりょうbad
- 不可ふかwrong
- いけないbad
- 劣悪れつあくpoor (quality, conditions, etc.)
- 邪よこしまwicked
- バッドbad
- よからぬbad
- 悪しきあしきbad
- いけんbad
- 感じ悪いかんじわるいbad (feeling, impression, attitude)
- 下手っぴへたっぴunskilled
- いくないnot good
- 気味が悪いきみがわるいcreepy (feeling)
- 気味の悪いきみのわるいcreepy (feeling)
- へぼいclumsy
- 腕が悪いうでがわるいunskilled
- 斜めななめdistorted (feeling)
- いかんbad
- マイナスnegative (image, effect, thinking, etc.)
See also
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