Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "わるい", "不良", "不運", "陋習"
All represent the core concept "bad", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
わるい
悪い (warui)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
不良
ふりょう (furyō)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
不運
ふうん (fuun)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
陋習
ろうしゅう (rōshū)
N1 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "bad" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "わるい", "不良", "不運", "陋習" based on context.
- わるい (悪い (warui) - Level: N5): Maps to "bad, evil, wrong" and is used when A general i-adjective for "bad".
- 不良 (ふりょう (furyō) - Level: N3): Maps to "bad, poor (quality); delinquent (person); defect" and is used when Can be a noun meaning a defect or a delinquent person.
- 不運 (ふうん (fuun) - Level: N2): Maps to "bad luck, misfortune" and is used when 予期せぬ悪い出来事や、自分の意図しないところで生じる不幸な状況を指します。形容動詞「不運な.
- 陋習 (ろうしゅう (rōshū) - Level: N1): Maps to "bad custom; evil practice; obsolete practice" and is used when Refers to old, outdated, or harmful customs and practices that should be abolished. Has a formal and slightly critical tone..
Context for "わるい"
今日は天気が悪いです。
The weather is bad today.
Context for "不良"
この製品には不良がありました。
This product had a defect.
Context for "不運"
彼は不運にも事故に巻き込まれてしまった。
He unfortunately got caught up in an accident.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "bad, evil, wrong" in the context: "The weather is bad today.".