邪・横しま|よこしまyokoshima[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
邪邪 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing this word.
横しま横しま is a less common mixed kanji-kana spelling that is rarely used; treat it as a variant you may occasionally encounter rather than your default choice.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounwicked; evil; wrong; bad
Conjugation
| Plain form | 邪（よこしま） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 邪です（よこしまです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 邪ではない（よこしまではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 邪ではありません（よこしまではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 邪だった（よこしまだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 邪ではなかった（よこしまではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 邪で（よこしまで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 邪に（よこしまに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 邪なら（よこしまなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym邪悪じゃあくNeutralSino-Japanese word for evil with religious and moral overtones; native 「よこしま」 leans toward a crooked or impure heart, as in 「邪な考え」.
- Synonym極悪ごくあくNeutralHeinous: the harshest of these words, condemning crimes of utter, unforgivable wickedness — a heavier charge than 「よこしま」.
- Synonym不正ふせいNeutralWrongdoing or fraud: it flags rule-breaking such as cheating and corruption, without implying an evil heart.
- Synonym悪質あくしつNeutralDescribes conduct vicious in nature — typically scams and unlawful acts — judging the deed rather than the heart.
- Synonym悪あくNeutralA noun for evil as a concept, the opposite of good; it also means the villain or bad-guy role in a play.
- Synonym罪深いつみぶかいNeutralSinful, with religious overtones or a note of self-reproach; it weighs the guilt one carries rather than a crooked mind.
- Related非道ひどうWrittenWritten word for inhuman, heartless conduct; often seen in 「極悪非道」, it stresses the brutality of acts rather than a wicked mind.
- Related凶悪きょうあくNeutralAtrocious or brutal: it fits violent criminals, crimes and savage natures, while 「よこしま」 points to a crooked mind.
- Related不法ふほうNeutralUnlawful: centred on breaking the law, and more loosely on what is unjust or outrageous; it says nothing about whether the intent is crooked.
- Related悪辣あくらつWrittenWritten word for crafty, ruthless conduct; it condemns the vile methods used, as in 「悪辣な手口」.
- Related不徳義ふとくぎWrittenA rare written word: it points to conduct that betrays morals or good faith, stressing the broken trust.
- Related不道徳ふどうとくNeutralImmoral: it covers anything that violates ethics, a broader net than 「邪」, which targets a crooked heart.
- Antonym正せいWrittenThe antonym: rightness and legitimacy, in more formal prose, opposed to the crooked intent of 「邪」.
Use 「よこしま」 for a crooked or impure heart, as in 「邪な心」「邪な考え」. For evil in the religious or moral sense pick 「邪悪」, for rule-breaking 「不正」, for what breaks the law 「不法」. The opposite is 「正」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
