悪徳

• Reading: あくとく
• Romaji: akutoku
• Kanji breakdown: 悪 (aku/waru) — evil, bad, wicked; 徳 (toku) — virtue, morality, merit
• Pronunciation: /a.kɯ.to.kɯ/

Meaning

Wickedness; vice; corruption; moral depravity. Refers to unethical conduct or character marked by immorality and dishonesty.

Functions as both a noun and an attributive modifier (悪徳な, 悪徳業者). Used to describe individuals, organisations, or practices that exploit, deceive, or harm others for personal gain. Commonly appears in journalism and literature to describe unscrupulous businesses or public figures. The antonym is 美徳 (virtue).

Examples

1. 悪徳業者に騙されて、高齢の母が老後の蓄えをすべて失った。 An elderly mother was deceived by an unscrupulous dealer and lost all her retirement savings.
2. 彼の悪徳は長年隠されていたが、内部告発によって白日の下にさらされた。 His moral corruption had been hidden for many years, but it was brought to light by a whistleblower.
3. 権力者の悪徳を題材にした歴史小説は、今も多くの読者を惹きつける。 Historical novels featuring the wickedness of those in power continue to attract many readers today.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, ethics, society, journalism, literature

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Compound of 悪 (aku, evil/bad) and 徳 (toku, virtue/morality). Literally the antithesis of 美徳 (virtue), this compound has been used since classical times to denote moral corruption.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Contemporary

Generation: Adults

Social background: General