醜悪

• Reading: しゅうあく
• Romaji: shuuaku
• Kanji breakdown: 醜 (shuu/miniku) — ugly, shameful; 悪 (aku/waru) — bad, evil
• Pronunciation: /ɕɯː.a.kɯ/

Meaning

Ugly; hideous; repulsive; disgraceful. Describes extreme ugliness in appearance or character.

A na-adjective and noun conveying extreme ugliness, whether physical or moral. Stronger and more literary than 醜い (ugly), and often used to describe morally reprehensible behaviour or aesthetically repulsive things. Common in literary criticism, social commentary, and formal writing. Can describe both concrete ugliness and abstract disgrace.

Examples

1. 権力者の醜悪な姿が報道で明らかになった。 The disgraceful behavior of those in power was exposed in the media.
2. その事件の醜悪な真相に多くの人が衝撃を受けた。 Many people were shocked by the ugly truth behind that incident.
3. 戦場の醜悪な光景は忘れられない。 The hideous scenes from the battlefield are impossible to forget.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, social commentary, criticism

Tone: harsh

Origin & History

From Chinese 醜惡. 醜 (shuu) means 'ugly, shameful' and 悪 (aku) means 'bad, evil.' Together they express the most extreme form of ugliness — both physical and moral.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal