Japanese Conversation · Level 81
60 words
Japanese word
悪意
Pronunciation
Romajiakui
Meaning
- nounmalice
Example
彼の言葉には悪意がありません。kare no koto ba ni wa aku i ga a ri ma se n
His words contain no malice.
More examples
冗談のように聞こえても、その言葉には悪意があります。jō dan no yō ni ki ko e te mo so no koto ba ni wa aku i ga a ri ma su
Although they may sound like a joke, those words are malicious.
Core concept
It centers on a harmful intention behind words or actions, rather than on harm that actually occurs.
Common phrases
悪意を抱くaku i o ida ku
harbor malice
悪意のないaku i no na i
free of malice
Similar words
悪気warugi: An intention to offend or cause harm, often used in everyday speech.
敵意tekii: A hostile attitude or feeling directed toward another person or group.
害意gaii: An intention to injure or damage another person or thing.
Definition in Japanese
他人に害を与えようとする悪い意図。ta nin ni gai o ata e yō to su ru waru i i to
Word origin
悪意 (akui) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 悪 (aku, "bad") and 意 (i, "intention"), giving the sense of a harmful intention.
Usage tips
- In English, malice usually points to an intention to cause harm, so harsh speech can occur without malice when no harmful intent is present.
Other meanings
- ill willnoun
- spitenoun
Opposites
- 善意zenigoodwillnoun
Related words
- 悪意性akuiseimaliciousnessnoun
- 悪意的akuitekimaliciousna-adjective