How to say "villain" in Japanese

• 悪役あくやくCommon
  no-adjectiveThe villain as a role or character in a story, film, or play — the part the villain plays. Choose this when talking about acting, drama, or fictional baddies.
• 悪者わるものJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe plain 'bad guy' — a general word for someone who does wrong, or for the villain side in a story. Use it when saying who the baddie is.
  いない者ものがいつも悪者わるものになる。↗

  The absent are always in the wrong.
• 悪人あくにんCommon
  no-adjectiveA bad person — someone whose character or deeds are evil. It labels the person themselves as wicked, a wrongdoer or scoundrel, not a role in a story.
  悪人あくにんでも手柄てがらは認みとめてやれ。↗

  Give credit where credit is due.
• 悪党あくとうCommon
  no-adjectiveA scoundrel or rascal — a thoroughly wicked person, often with contempt. It brands someone a villain outright rather than naming a role or a side.
  その悪党あくとうは高所こうしょ恐怖症きょうふしょうだ。↗

  The wicked man is scared of heights.
• 悪玉あくだまCommon
  nounThe 'baddie' as opposed to the good guys: use it when framing things as good versus bad, the bad character set against the good one.

Use 悪役 for the villain's role in a story or performance, 悪者 for the everyday 'bad guy', 悪人 for a morally bad person, 悪党 for a scoundrel, and 悪玉 for the baddie in a good-versus-bad contrast.

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

• 悪役あくやくvillain
• 悪者わるものbad guy
• 悪人あくにんbad person
• 悪党あくとうscoundrel
• 悪玉あくだまbad character
• 曲者くせものruffian
• 姦人かんじんvillain
• 凶漢きょうかんvillain
• 奸賊かんぞくvillain
• ヴィランvillain
• 悪漢あっかんrascal
• 凶賊きょうぞくviolent robber
• 悪徒あくとrascal
• 無頼漢ぶらいかんruffian
• 不届き者ふとどきものrude person
• 凶人きょうじんscoundrel
• 不埒者ふらちものmiscreant
• ならず者ならずものruffian
• 乱波らっぱthug
• 極道ごくどうwastrel
• 赤面あかつらvillain (in kabuki, jōruri, etc.)