Meaning and Usage
"悪い" (わるい) is a common adjective meaning "bad," "poor," or "wrong." It is used to describe something negative in quality, condition, or morality. It can refer to physical states (like bad weather), moral judgments (doing something wrong), or social situations (apologizing politely).
Common Collocations
- 悪い天気 (わるいてんき): bad weather
- 悪いこと (わるいこと): bad thing, wrongdoing
- 悪いけど (わるいけど): a polite way to say "sorry, but..." often used to soften refusals or excuses
Usage Notes
"悪い" is very versatile and appears in both casual and polite speech. When used alone as "悪いけど," it functions as a soft apology or preface to a refusal, which is a common conversational pattern.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "悪い" with "下手" (へた, unskilled) when talking about ability. Remember, "悪い" refers to quality or morality, not skill level. For skill, use "下手" or "苦手."