憎悪

• Reading: ぞうお
• Romaji: zouo
• Kanji breakdown: 憎 (zō) — hate, detest; 悪 (o/aku) — evil, bad, wrong
• Pronunciation: /zoː.o/

Meaning

Hatred; abhorrence; loathing. An intense feeling of hostility and disgust towards someone or something.

A noun and suru-verb (他動詞) expressing extreme hatred or revulsion. Stronger than 嫌い (dislike) or 憎しみ (hatred), 憎悪 conveys deep, visceral loathing. Often used in serious contexts such as crime, discrimination, and social conflict. 憎悪犯罪 is the Japanese equivalent of 'hate crime.'

Examples

1. 差別に対する憎悪の声が世界中で高まっている。 Voices of hatred toward discrimination are rising around the world.
2. 長年の対立が深い憎悪を生んだ。 Years of conflict bred deep hatred.
3. 憎悪からは何も生まれない。 Nothing good comes from hatred.

Usage Guide

Context: social issues, literature, psychology

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 憎 (zō, hate/detest) + 悪 (o, evil/bad). Literally 'hateful evil' — an intensified form of hatred.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal