How to say "evil" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 邪悪じゃあくna-adjective, nounThe direct word for evil as a moral quality: use it to describe a person, intention, or force as wicked or evil, as one would call a story's villain evil.
- 邪よこしまna-adjective, nounWicked, wrong, or bad, with a nuance of moral crookedness: it suits talk of impure, twisted intentions or desires more than evil as an abstract force.
- 悪あくnounEvil or wickedness in the abstract: the general term for evil as a concept — the opposite of good — rather than a description of something specific as evil.
- 極道ごくどうna-adjective, nounWicked, evil, profligate, immoral: it suggests extreme, outrageous wickedness in a person or way of life, so it is seldom the word you want for plain 'evil'.
- 害悪がいあくnounHarm, injury, or evil as a damaging influence: use it when 'evil' means something baneful — a harm to society or health — not moral wickedness in a person.
Choose 邪悪 for evil as a moral quality, 悪 for evil in the abstract, 邪 for crooked or impure intent, 極道 for a profligate, immoral way of life, and 害悪 for evil as harm or a bad influence.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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