HSK · Level 32
135 words
Chinese word
恶
Pronunciation
Pinyinè
Meaning
- adjectiveevil
Example
他是个恶人。tā shì gè è rén
He is an evil person.
More examples
那个人的行为非常恶毒。nà ge rén de xíng wéi fēi cháng è dú
That person's behavior is extremely vicious.
Core concept
A malicious moral nature that points toward harming people rather than merely doing something poorly.
Common phrases
邪恶xié è
evil
恶毒è dú
vicious
恶劣è liè
bad
Similar words
邪恶xié è: Being profoundly wicked and opposed to moral goodness.
恶毒è dú: Having cruel intent and deliberately causing pain through words or actions.
恶劣è liè: Being extremely bad in attitude or condition and likely to cause trouble.
坏huài: Being bad in a general sense, including quality, condition, behavior, or character.
Definition in Chinese
表示道德上或性格上的邪恶，指内心怀有伤害他人或损害善良的意图或倾向。biǎo shì dào dé shàng huò xìng gé shàng de xié è zhǐ nèi xīn huái yǒu shāng hài tā rén huò sǔn hài shàn liáng de yì tú huò qīng xiàng
Word origin
The traditional form 惡 (è, "evil") contains 心 (xīn, "heart"), linking the written form to the word's focus on inner moral character; 恶 (è, "evil") is its simplified form.
Usage tips
- English speakers may reserve "evil" for dramatic stories, but this word can make a serious judgment about a person's character or intent in ordinary Chinese descriptions.
Other meanings
- badadjective
- wickednessnoun
Opposites
- 善良shàn liángkindadjective