شخص سيء
shakhs sayyi'
In Arabic, the phrase for "bad person" is شخص سيء (shakhs sayyi').
The term شخص سيء is used to describe a person who lacks moral principles or behaves in an unkind or dishonest way. Depending on the specific type of bad behavior, other terms may be more precise: شرير is used for someone who is evil or wicked and commits malicious acts, while منافق refers to a hypocrite who pretends to have good qualities while acting negatively. In informal settings, someone might use زبالة (literally "garbage") to describe a person who is despicable or worthless or use عجيب (strange or weird) sarcastically to describe someone behaving badly. To describe someone who is simply rude or impolite, قَلِيل الأدب is used to indicate a lack of manners.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase شخص سيء is composed of شخص, meaning "person", followed by the adjective سيء, which means "bad".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the colloquial term كلب literally means "dog" but is used to refer to someone who is morally corrupt. In Gulf Arabic, the term فاسد is used to mean "corrupt", specifically for individuals with bad intentions or those involved in unlawful activities.
How do you pronounce it?
shakhs sayyi'
Did you know?
- The term فاسد for a 'corrupt person' shares the same root as the word for 'spoiled' or 'rotten' food, implying that the person's morality has physically decayed.
- In some Arabic cultures, describing someone as قَلِيل الأدب (lacking manners) is considered a more severe social condemnation than calling them a 'bad person', as etiquette is tied to family honor.
- While كلب meaning 'dog' is a harsh insult for a 'bad person' in many Arabic dialects, the animal itself is not universally viewed as unclean in the same way as in some religious interpretations.
Examples in context
- هذا الشخص سيء جدًا في التصرفات.This person is very bad in their actions.
- لا يُحب أحد الأشخاص الشريرين.No one likes bad people.
- هل تعرف أحدًا منافقًا؟Do you know anyone who is a hypocrite?
- هو شخص سيء للغاية.Huwa shakhsun sayyi'un lil-ghaya.He is a very bad person.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Nour are discussing a mutual acquaintance.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تعتقدين أن هذا الرجل شخص سيء؟Hal ta'taqidina anna hadha al-rajul shakhsun sayyi'?Do you think this man is a bad person?
- نور Nourنعم، لقد كذب علي كثيراً.Na'am, laqad kadhaba 'alayya kathiran.Yes, he lied to me a lot.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا لا أحب التعامل معه إذاً.Ana la uhibbu al-ta'amul ma'ahu idhan.I do not like dealing with him then.
- نور Nourمن الأفضل أن نتجنبه يا أحمد.Min al-afdal an natajannabahu ya Ahmad.It is better that we avoid him, Ahmed.
