Japanese word

悪者

Pronunciation

Romajiwarumono

Meaning

  • nounbad guy

Example

あの人は悪者です。a no hito wa waru mono de su

That person is a bad guy.

Illustration for 悪者 (bad guy)

More examples

物語の最後に、悪者が自分の過ちを認めました。monogatari no sai go ni waru mono ga ji bun no ayama chi o mito me ma shi ta

At the end of the story, the bad guy admitted his mistake.

Core concept

Presents someone as the harmful or immoral person opposing others, especially in a story.

Common phrases

  • 悪者扱いするwaru mono atsuka i su ru

    treat someone as a bad guy

  • 悪者呼ばわりするwaru mono yo ba wa ri su ru

    call someone a bad guy

  • 悪者にするwaru mono ni su ru

    make someone a bad guy

Similar words

悪人akunin: A person regarded as morally wrong or harmful.
悪役akuyaku: A character who opposes the hero in a story.
悪党akutō: A person who behaves like a criminal or villain.
敵役katakiyaku: A character placed in opposition to the main character.

Definition in Japanese

道徳的に悪いと見なされる人、または物語などで悪の役割を担う人物。dō toku teki ni waru i to mi na sa re ru hito ma ta wa monogatari na do de aku no yaku wari o nina u jin butsu

Word origin

悪者 (warumono, "bad person") is formed from the stem of 悪い (warui, "bad") and 者 (mono, "person"), creating a noun for a bad person.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese stories, 悪者 (warumono) often serves as a straightforward label for the opponent of the hero in a good-versus-evil plot.

Other meanings

  • villainnoun

Opposites

  • 善人zenningood personnoun

Word lists with this word