Translation and Meaning of: 悪 - aku

If you have ever watched an anime or read a manga, you have probably come across the word 悪 (あく), which means "evil" or "wickedness." But do you know where it comes from, how it is used in everyday Japanese, or even how to memorize it efficiently? In this article, we will explore the etymology, practical use, and even some curiosities about this kanji that is so present in Japanese pop culture. Additionally, if you use Anki or another spaced repetition method, you will find practical examples to boost your studies.

Many people search on Google not only for the meaning of 悪, but also its origin, how to write it correctly, and even common phrases that use this word. And that is exactly what you will discover here. The kanji 悪 appears in terms such as 悪人 (あくにん) (villain) and 悪魔 (あくま) (demon), showing how it is linked to negative concepts. But has it always had this connotation? Let's unravel this and other questions next.

Origin and etymology of the kanji 悪

The kanji 悪 has an interesting history. It is composed of two radicals: the radical for "heart" (心) at the bottom and an upper element that suggests something "wrong" or "twisted." Together, they convey the idea of a heart that is not in the right place, meaning evil. This visual construction helps to understand why this character carries such a negative meaning.

In ancient China, where the kanjis originated, the character was already used to represent concepts like "bad" or "wrong." When the Japanese adopted the Chinese writing system, they maintained this meaning but adapted the pronunciation to あく (aku) and わる (waru), depending on the context. Interestingly, in some regional dialects of Japan, the word may have slightly different nuances, but overall, the meaning remains the same.

Everyday use and popular expressions

In daily life, Japanese people use 悪 in various situations. For example, if someone does something wrong, they might hear a 悪いね (warui ne) – something like "that's ugly, huh?". But the word also appears in lighter contexts, such as in 悪ふざけ (warufuzake), which means "bad taste joke". It’s a term that everyone knows, from children to adults.

In pop culture, 悪 is often associated with villains and antagonists. Who hasn't seen an anime character being called 悪役 (akuyaku), the famous "villain role"? And it doesn't stop there: even in games like Pokémon, the "Dark" type is called あく in the original. If you're a fan of animes or games, you already have a great association to memorize this word.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An easy way to remember the kanji 悪 is to think of the heart radical (心) underneath something "crooked." Imagine a heart that doesn't beat at the right rhythm – that already gives an idea of wickedness. Another tip is to associate it with words you already know, such as 悪魔 (akuma, demon), very common in horror and fantasy stories.

Did you know that, in some contexts, 悪 can even have a lighter tone? For example, among friends, saying 悪くない (warukunai) can mean "not bad" or "it's actually good." It's one of those cases where intonation and context change everything. So, have you thought about how you would use this word in your next conversation in Japanese?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 悪意 (aku-i) - bad intention
• 悪質 (akushitsu) - wickedness or malice in character or quality
• 悪徳 (akutoku) - vices or immoralities
• 悪霊 (akuryō) - evil spirit
• 悪人 (aku-nin) - bad person or villain
• 悪化 (akka) - deterioration or worsening
• 悪癖 (aku-heki) - addiction or bad habit
• 悪習 (aku-shū) - bad habits or harmful practices
• 悪事 (akuji) - evil act or crime
• 悪口 (warukuchi) - slander or gossip
• 悪戯 (itazura) - mischief or malicious prank
• 悪夢 (akumu) - Nightmare
• 悪い (warui) - bad
• 悪しき (ashiki) - malicious, vicious or miserable (used to describe something or someone negatively)

悪

Romaji: aku
Kana: あく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: bad; evil

Meaning in English: Evil, bad, wickedness

Definition: A concept that opposes good. It refers to morally questionable speech or behavior.

Example Sentences - (悪) aku

See below some example sentences:

暗殺は悪質な行為です。

Ansatsu wa akushitsu na kōi desu

Murder is a malicious act.

Murder is a malicious act.

• 暗殺 (ansatsu) - murder
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 悪質 (akushitsu) - malicious, evil
• な (na) - adjective particle
• 行為 (kōi) - act, action
• です (desu) - polite way of being

戦いは必ずしも悪ではない。

Tatakai wa kanarazu shimo aku de wa nai

The battle is not necessarily bad.

The battle is not always bad.

• 戦い - battle, fight
• は - Topic particle
• 必ずしも - not necessarily, not mandatory
• 悪 - bad, wrong
• ではない - Não é

悪いことをするな。

Warui koto wo suru na

Bad Things Don't.

Don't do bad things.

• 悪い (warui) - Means "bad"
• こと (koto) - means "thing" or "subject"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• する (suru) - verb that means "to do"
• な (na) - particle indicating an order or prohibition

悪いことをしてはいけません。

Warui koto o shite wa ikemasen

Don't do bad things.

Don't do bad things.

• 悪い - It means "bad" or "evil" in Japanese.
• こと - means "thing" or "matter" in Japanese.
• を - It is a *particle* in Japanese, used to mark the direct object of a sentence.
• して - It is the form of the verb "suru" (to do) in gerund in Japanese.
• は - It is a "partícula" of topic in Japanese, used to mark the main subject of the sentence.
• いけません - It is a polite form of the verb "iku" (to go) in Japanese, used to express a prohibition or a negative obligation.

悪口を言わないでください。

Waruguchi o iwanaide kudasai

Please do not speak ill of others.

Don't say bad words.

• 悪口 - means "bad words" or "offensive language".
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 言わないで - negative form of the verb "to say" in the imperative, meaning "don't say".
• ください - polite form of the verb "to give", which indicates a request or demand.
• で - particle that indicates the place or means by which something is done.

悪魔は人間を誘惑する。

Akuma wa ningen wo yūwaku suru

Demsta Tempt Humans.

The devil seduces humans.

• 悪魔 - demon
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human
• を - direct object particle
• 誘惑 - temptation
• する - verb "to do"

公害は環境に悪影響を与えます。

Kougai wa kankyou ni aku eikyou wo ataemasu

Environmental pollution has a negative impact on the environment.

Pollution has a negative effect on the environment.

• 公害 (kougai) - pollution
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 環境 (kankyou) - environment
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - object particle
• 与えます (ataemasu) - cause, have an impact

仕舞いが悪い。

Shimai ga warui

The situation is bad.

The end is bad.

• 仕舞い (shimai) - means "end" or "conclusion".
• が (ga) - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 悪い (warui) - adjective that means "bad" or "evil".

伐採は環境に悪影響を与える。

Bassai wa kankyō ni aku eikyō o ataeru

Logging has a negative impact on the environment.

The cut has a negative effect on the environment.

• 伐採 - tree cutting
• は - Topic particle
• 環境 - environment
• に - Location particle
• 悪影響 - negative effect
• を - direct object particle
• 与える - cause

不潔な人は健康に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Fuketsu na hito wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu

The dirty person can have a negative impact on health.

Dirty people may have a negative effect on health.

• 不潔な人 (fuketsu na hito) - dirty person
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 健康 (kenkou) - health
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - object particle
• 与える (ataeru) - cause
• 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あります (arimasu) - exists