悪しからず

• Reading: あしからず
• Romaji: ashikarazu
• Kanji breakdown: 悪 (ashi) — bad, evil
• Pronunciation: /a.ɕi.ka.ɾa.zɯ/

Meaning

Please don't take it badly; don't get me wrong. A polite way to soften a refusal or negative statement.

An adverbial expression derived from the classical negative form of 悪し (ashi, bad). Literally 'not badly,' used as a polite disclaimer before or after delivering potentially unwelcome news. Common in business correspondence and formal refusals. Often appears with ご了承ください as 悪しからずご了承ください (please understand and bear no ill will).

Examples

1. ご要望に添えず悪しからずご了承ください。 We are unable to fulfill your request; please understand and bear us no ill will.
2. 悪しからず率直な意見を申し上げます。 I hope you won't take it badly, but I'll share my honest opinion.
3. 在庫切れのため対応できません。悪しからず。 We are out of stock and cannot assist. Please don't take it badly.

Usage Guide

Context: business, correspondence, apologies

Tone: apologetic

Origin & History

From classical Japanese 悪し (ashi, bad) + からず (karazu, classical negative). Literally 'not taking it badly,' a courteous disclaimer from literary Japanese that persists in modern formal contexts.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional