Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Bad" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "bad", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
わるい
悪い (warui)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
陋習
ろうしゅう (rōshū)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "bad" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between わるい and 陋習.
In Japanese, わるい (悪い (warui)) is typically associated with "bad, evil, wrong" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A general i-adjective for "bad".
On the other hand, 陋習 (ろうしゅう (rōshū)) maps to "bad custom; evil practice; obsolete practice" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Refers to old, outdated, or harmful customs and practices that should be abolished. Has a formal and slightly critical tone.. A literal translation of "bad" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "わるい"
今日は天気が悪いです。
The weather is bad today.
Bilingual Context for "陋習"
その会社には長年続いている陋習がいくつか残っている。
Several long-standing bad customs still remain in that company.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "今日は天気が悪いです。" (Meaning: "The weather is bad today.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "わるい" fits here because it means "bad, evil, wrong" in the context of: "The weather is bad today.". "陋習" represents "bad custom; evil practice; obsolete practice".