How to say "malice" in Japanese

• 恨みうらみJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounMalice as a feeling rather than an intent: bitter resentment or a grudge nursed against someone who has wronged you. It fits 'bearing malice toward a person,' not plotting harm.
  リサはスタンに恨うらみがある。↗

  Lisa bears a grudge against Stan.
• 悪気わるぎCommon
  nounMalice as plain ill will — whether someone meant harm. It appears chiefly in negative phrases such as 悪気がない, 'to have no malice'; as a positive word for malice it is seldom what you want.
  なんの気きなしに言いっただけで、別べつに悪気わるぎがあってのことではありません。↗

  I just said so without thinking much about it. I didn't mean anything serious.
• 犯意はんいCommon
  nounMalice in its legal sense: criminal intent, the state of mind behind a crime. This is a term of law, not a word for everyday spite, grudges or unkind remarks.
• 悪意あくいCommon
  no-adjectiveThe general word for malice: deliberate ill will, spite or evil intention behind someone's words or actions. If you want to say a remark or act was malicious, this is the word.
  あなたの周まわりの人々ひとびとの普通ふつうの行おこないに悪意あくいがあると考かんがえてはいけない。↗

  Don't read evil intentions into the ordinary actions of people around you.
• 他意たいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA hidden purpose or ulterior motive rather than open malice; in practice it appears nearly always in the negative 他意はない, 'I have no ulterior motive.' Seldom the word for malice itself.

Use 悪意 for malice as deliberate ill will, 「恨み」 for a grudge or bitter resentment, 犯意 for legal criminal intent, while 悪気 and 他意 appear mostly in negative phrases meaning 'without malice' or 'no ulterior motive'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 恨みうらみresentment
• 悪気わるぎill will
• 犯意はんいcriminal intent
• 悪意あくいill will
• 他意たいother intention
• 邪気じゃきmalice
• 害意がいいmalice
• 意趣いしゅgrudge
• 害心がいしんevil intentions
• 意趣遺恨いしゅいこんgrudge
• 毒どくill will
• 毒気どっきmalice
• 針はりmalice