How to say "second-rate" in Japanese

• 二流にりゅうCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers the core sense of 'second-rate': not first-rate, mediocre, inferior in standing. Used of people, performers, companies, or works judged against a first-rate standard, with a nuance of ranking rather than badness.
  それはせいぜい二流にりゅうのホテルだ。↗

  It is at best a second-rate hotel.
• 悪質あくしつCommon
  na-adjective, nounMatches only the quality sense of 'second-rate': shoddy, inferior, poor-quality. Its nuance is that something is genuinely bad or nasty in quality, so it is seldom the word you want for mere second-tier status.

Use 二流 for the ranking sense of 'second-rate' (not first-rate, mediocre), and 悪質 only when 'second-rate' means shoddy or poor in quality rather than merely inferior in rank.

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

• 二流にりゅうsecond-rate
• 亜あsub-
• 二の町にのまちinferior
• 悪質あくしつshoddy