悪口

• Reading: わるぐち
• Romaji: waruguchi
• Kanji breakdown: 悪 (waru) — bad, evil; 口 (guchi/kuchi) — mouth
• Pronunciation: /wa.ɾɯ.ɡɯ.t͡ɕi/

Meaning

Insult; slander; bad-mouthing; abusive language.

A noun referring to negative speech about someone, ranging from gossip to outright verbal abuse. 悪口を言う (say bad things about someone) is the most common collocation. Distinct from 文句 (complaint) and 批判 (criticism) — 悪口 specifically implies speaking ill of a person, often behind their back.

Examples

1. 人の悪口を言うのはよくない。 It's not good to talk badly about people.
2. クラスメートが先生の悪口を言っていた。 A classmate was bad-mouthing the teacher.
3. 悪口を言われて傷ついた。 I was hurt by the things said about me behind my back.

Usage Guide

Context: social interaction, school life, relationships

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Composed of 悪 (bad, evil) and 口 (mouth). Literally 'bad mouth,' directly conveying the meaning of speaking negatively about someone.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal