Japanese Conversation · Level 111
60 words
Japanese word
悪口
Pronunciation
Romajiwaruguchi
Meaning
- nounbad-mouthing
Example
友達の悪口は言いません。tomo dachi no waru guchi wa i i ma se n
I do not bad-mouth my friends.
More examples
彼は冗談のつもりでも、相手には悪口に聞こえます。kare wa jō dan no tsu mo ri de mo ai te ni wa waru guchi ni ki ko e ma su
Even if he means it as a joke, it sounds like an insult to the other person.
Core concept
Describes negative words spoken about a person, often to criticize or insult them.
Common phrases
悪口を聞くwaru guchi o ki ku
hear bad things about someone
悪口を言うwaru guchi o yū
bad-mouth someone
Similar words
陰口kageguchi: Negative remarks made about someone when that person is not present.
侮辱bujoku: Words or actions that show disrespect and offend a person's dignity.
中傷chūshō: False or unfair statements that damage a person's reputation.
Definition in Japanese
人の欠点や失敗などを取り上げて非難したり、侮辱したりする言葉。hito no ket ten ya ship pai na do o to ri a ge te hi nan shi ta ri bu joku shi ta ri su ru koto ba
Word origin
Combines 悪い (warui, "bad") and 口 (kuchi, "mouth") as a native Japanese compound, giving the sense of speech that harms another person's reputation.
Usage tips
- 悪口 (waruguchi) often carries a stronger sense of personal attack than neutral criticism, so it does not usually describe a calm evaluation.
Other meanings
- insulting remarksnoun
Opposites
- 褒め言葉homekotobacomplimentnoun