悪口
warukuchi[β̞a̠ɾɯ̟kɯ̟̊t͡ɕi]
In Japanese, 'curse words' is 悪口 (warukuchi).
悪口 refers to words used to speak badly of someone or to insult them. To express the action of badmouthing someone or using these words, you typically add the verb 言う (iu, to say) to form 悪口を言う (warukuchi o iu). Note that if you want to use a much stronger term that can mean 'beast' or 'damn it', you might encounter the word 畜生 (chikusho).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 悪口 is composed of 悪, meaning 'bad' and 口, meaning 'mouth', literally translating to 'bad mouth'.
How do you pronounce it?
warukuchi
Did you know?
- Japanese often avoids direct curse words in favor of 'keigo' (polite speech) used sarcastically to create a freezing, insulting distance between the speaker and the listener.
- Many 'strong' Japanese insults are actually just variations of the word 'you', such as お前 (omae) or 手前 (temae), which can become offensive depending on the context.
- The word 畜生 (chikusho), often used as a harsh expletive, literally translates to 'beast' or 'animal' and refers to the lowest realm of rebirth in Buddhist cosmology.
Examples in context
- 人の悪口を言うのは良くない。Hito no waruguchi o iu no wa yokunai.It is not good to say bad things about people.
- 彼はいつも私の悪口を言っている。Kare wa itsumo watashi no waruguchi o itte iru.He is always saying bad things about me.
- 悪口は聞きたくない。Waruguchi wa kikitakunai.I don't want to hear insults.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a coworker at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariあの人の悪口を言ってもいい？Ano hito no waruguchi o itte mo ii?Can I say something bad about that person?
- 大翔 Hirotoそんなの、聞きたくないよ。Sonna no, kikitakunai yo.I don't want to hear that.
- 陽葵 Himariごめん、つい悪口を言いたくなった。Gomen, tsui waruguchi o iitaku natta.Sorry, I just felt like badmouthing him.
- 大翔 Hirotoまあ、あまり人の悪口は言わないほうがいいよ。Maa, amari hito no waruguchi wa iwanai hou ga ii yo.Well, you shouldn't speak ill of others too much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 悪口, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
