bad, evil, wicked

JLPT N5 10 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (è) primarily means 'bad,' 'evil,' or 'wicked.' It can describe morally bad behavior, malicious intent, or unpleasant physical sensations like nausea.

Common Collocations

  • 恶劣 (èliè): very bad or vile, often used to describe behavior or conditions.
  • 恶意 (èyì): malicious intent or ill will.
  • 恶心 (ěxīn): feeling nauseous or disgusted.

Usage Notes

When used to describe people or actions, often implies strong disapproval or moral condemnation. In medical or physical contexts, 恶心 specifically refers to nausea rather than moral badness.

Avoiding Confusion

Don't confuse (è) with similar-sounding words like 饿 (è, hungry). Also, 恶心 as 'nausea' is different from its literal meaning of 'evil heart.' Context clarifies the meaning.

Register and Tone

This character is neutral to formal in tone and appears in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in formal or literary contexts.

Example Sentences

His behavior is very bad, everyone dislikes him.

He has malicious intent and deliberately harms others.

I feel nauseous and want to vomit; maybe I ate something bad.