悪: the kanji for bad
悪 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means bad. Below are its readings, 9 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
悪 is written in 11 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
悪 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 9 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
アク (aku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 悪化あっか · akka | worsening |
| 最悪さいあく · saiaku | worst |
| 悪用あくよう · akuyō | misuse |
| 悪意あくい · akui | ill will |
| 善悪ぜんあく · zen'aku | right and wrong |
オ (o)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 悪寒おかん · okan | chills |
わるい (warui)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 悪いわるい · warui | bad |
| 具合が悪いぐあいがわるい · guai ga warui | to feel unwell |
| 気分が悪いきぶんがわるい · kibun ga warui | to feel sick |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 今日は天気が悪いです。Kyō wa tenki ga warui desu.The weather is bad today.
- 具合が悪いので、早退します。Guai ga warui node, sōtai shimasu.I'm not feeling well, so I'll leave early.
- 遅くなって悪いね。Osoku natte warui ne.Sorry I'm late. (casual)
- 状況が悪化する前に対応しましょう。Jōkyō ga akka suru mae ni taiō shimashō.Let's act before the situation gets worse.
- 個人情報が悪用されないように注意してください。Kojin jōhō ga akuyō sarenai yō ni chūi shite kudasai.Be careful that your personal information isn't misused.
- 朝から悪寒がします。Asa kara okan ga shimasu.I've had chills since this morning.
Questions about 悪
How many strokes does 悪 have?
悪 is written in 11 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 悪?
The on readings are aku (アク), o (オ). The kun readings are warui (わるい).
Can 悪い mean sorry?
Yes. In casual speech, 悪い (warui) or 悪いね (warui ne) means "sorry" or "my bad." With coworkers senior to you, use すみません (sumimasen) instead.
What JLPT level is 悪?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Colors and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 悪
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.