Translation and Meaning of: 悪い - nikui

The Japanese word 悪い[にくい] is a term that piques curiosity both for its writing and its meaning. In this article, we will explore what it represents, how it is used in everyday life, and the contexts in which it appears. If you are learning Japanese or simply have an interest in the language, understanding this expression can be helpful for expanding your vocabulary and grasping cultural nuances.

In addition to explaining the meaning of 悪い[にくい], we will discuss its origin, practical usage examples, and even tips for memorizing it. Suki Nihongo, one of the best online Japanese dictionaries, provides detailed information about this and other words, making learning easier. Shall we get started?

Meaning and use of 悪い[にくい]

The term 悪い[にくい] is composed of the kanji 悪 (aku/maru), which means "bad" or "evil", and the suffix ～にくい, which indicates difficulty in performing an action. Together, they form an expression that can be translated as "difficult to do" or "complicated to accomplish". This construction is often used to describe situations or tasks that present obstacles.

For example, if someone says that a door is 開けにくい (akenikui), it means that it is difficult to open. The same pattern applies to verbs like 読みにくい (yominikui – difficult to read) or 聞きにくい (kikinikui – difficult to hear). This grammatical structure is quite common in everyday Japanese and appears in various contexts.

Origin and grammatical structure

The origin of the suffix ～にくい is linked to the verb 憎い (nikui), which originally meant "hateful" or "unpleasant". Over time, its usage evolved to express the idea of difficulty, giving rise to the form we know today. This semantic change is common in languages and helps to understand how certain expressions have solidified in modern Japanese.

Grammatically, ～にくい connects to the stem form of verbs, creating adjectives that describe the challenging nature of an action. It's important not to confuse it with other suffixes like ～づらい (zurai) or ～がたい (gatai), which also express difficulty but with different nuances. While ～にくい is more general, ～づらい has a more subjective tone, linked to personal discomfort.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to memorize 悪い[にくい] is to associate it with concrete situations. Think of objects or actions that are complicated in your daily life and try to form sentences like このペンは書きにくい (kono pen wa kakinikui – this pen is hard to write with). Repeating this type of construction helps to solidify the grammatical pattern.

Another tip is to observe the use of this structure in animes, dramas, or authentic materials. Often, characters use ～にくい in natural dialogues, which makes it easier to understand the context. Suki Nihongo also provides real examples, making learning more dynamic and applicable.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 酷い (Hidoi) - Horrible, terrible
• 惡い (Warui) - Bad, malicious
• 悪っぽい (Akuppoi) - Looks evil, has a bad appearance
• 悪質な (Akushitsu na) - Malicious, of bad nature
• 不良な (Furyou na) - Inadequate, of poor quality or behavior
• 不吉な (Fukitsu na) - Unfavorable, sinister
• 悪意のある (Akui no aru) - With malicious intentions
• 悪徳の (Akutoku no) - Depraved, vicious
• 悪霊の (Akuryo no) - Regarding evil spirits
• 悪魔の (Akuma no) - Relative to demons, evil

悪い

Romaji: nikui
Kana: にくい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: hateful; abominable; poor looking

Meaning in English: hateful;abominable;poor-looking

Definition: It's not good. It causes feelings of guilt and discomfort.

Example Sentences - (悪い) nikui

See below some example sentences:

夜更かしは健康に悪いです。

Yofukashi wa kenkou ni warui desu

Staying up late is bad for your health.

Night time is bad for your health.

• 夜更かし - means "staying up late" in Japanese.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 健康 - It means "health" in Japanese.
• に - grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of something to something else.
• 悪い - means "bad" in Japanese.
• です - Japanese verb "to be", used to indicate a formal statement.

彼女を苛めるのは悪いことだ。

Kanojo wo ijimeru no wa warui koto da

It's wrong to bully a girl.

It's bad to catch her.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 苛める (ijimeru) - verb meaning "bullying" or "intimidating" in Japanese
• のは (no wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 悪い (warui) - Adjective meaning "bad" or "evil" in Japanese.
• こと (koto) - Noun that means "thing" or "fact" in Japanese.
• だ (da) - verb "to be" in Japanese

彼女の機嫌が悪い。

Kanojo no kigen ga warui

She is in a bad mood.

• 彼女 - Means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese.
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 機嫌 - means "mood" or "state of mind" in Japanese.
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 悪い - means "bad" in Japanese.

泥棒は悪いことです。

Dorobou wa warui koto desu

Stealing is a bad thing.

A thief is bad.

• 泥棒 - means "thief" in Japanese.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "thief".
• 悪い - adjective meaning "bad".
• こと - Noun meaning "thing" or "fact".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

煙草を吸うのは健康に悪いです。

Tabako wo suu no wa kenkou ni warui desu

Smoking cigarettes is harmful to health.

Smoking tobacco is bad for your health.

• 煙草 (tabaco) - noun
• を (partícula de objeto) - particle
• 吸う (fumar) - verb
• のは (partícula de tópico) - particle
• 健康 (saúde) - noun
• に (partícula de destino) - particle
• 悪い (ruim) - adjective
• です (verbo ser/estar) - verb

空気が悪いと健康に悪影響がある。

Kuuki ga warui to kenkou ni aku eikyou ga aru

Poor air quality has a negative impact on health.

Poor air has a negative effect on health.

• 空気 (kuuki) - I'm sorry, but there seems to be no text provided for translation. Please share the content you'd like translated from Portuguese to English.
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 悪い (warui) - bad
• と (to) - I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
• 健康 (kenkou) - health
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• が (ga) - subject particle
• ある (aru) - exists

行儀が悪いと人から嫌われる。

Gyougi ga warui to hito kara kirawareru

People are hated by bad behavior.

• 行儀 - behavior, manners
• が - subject particle
• 悪い - bad, bad
• と - Comparison particle
• 人 - person
• から - origin particle
• 嫌われる - to be hated, to be detested

覚えが悪いです。

Oboe ga warui desu

I have a bad memory.

I do not remember.

• 覚え - Means "memory" in Japanese.
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 悪い - adjective that means "bad" or "evil".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

辞めることは決して悪いことではありません。

Jimeru koto wa kesshite warui koto de wa arimasen

Leaving is not necessarily a bad thing.

It's not bad to go out.

• 辞めることは決して悪いことではありません。

- Unordered list tag
• - The tag of item of the list Leaving is never a bad thing. - Content of the item list
- Closure of the item list

- Closing of the unordered list