邪悪な
jaaku na
The Japanese word for unholy is 邪悪な (jaaku na).
邪悪な is used to describe something evil or unholy. While it can translate to unholy in a moral sense, it is most commonly used to describe personified evil or malicious intent rather than a lack of religious sanctity.
Meaning: not holy, evil (adj)
Which one should you use?
邪悪な focuses on evil and malice, whereas the formal term 不浄な is used specifically to mean impure or unclean.
How does it change in a sentence?
To connect clauses or describe a state using this word, you can use the te-form 邪悪で, which means 'being evil'.
How do you pronounce it?
jaaku na
Did you know?
- The first character in 邪悪な, 邪, originally referred to a 'crooked' or 'deviant' path. In ancient contexts, it described something that was not straight or aligned with the natural order rather than just being 'evil'.
- While 邪悪な describes a malicious heart, the concept of 'unholy' in a ritual sense is often tied to 穢れ (kegare), which represents a spiritual pollution that can be 'washed away'.
- The term 邪悪な is rarely used to describe inanimate objects unless they are possessed or cursed. To call a non-living object 'evil' in Japanese usually implies a supernatural presence.
Examples in context
- 不浄な場所an unholy place
- 彼は邪悪な計画を立てている。Kare wa jaaku na keikaku o tatete iru.He is making an evil plan.
- その物語には邪悪な魔術が登場する。Sono monogatari ni wa jaaku na majutsu ga toujou suru.Evil magic appears in that story.
- 邪悪な力に負けてはいけない。Jaaku na chikara ni makete wa ikenai.You must not lose to evil power.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are discussing a villain in a movie.
- 蓮 Renこの悪役は本当に邪悪な人間だね。Kono akuyaku wa hontou ni jaaku na ningen da ne.This villain is a truly evil person, isn't he?
- 結衣 Yuiそうね。やり方がひどすぎるわ。Sou ne. Yarikata ga hidosugiru wa.You're right. His methods are just too cruel.
- 蓮 Ren最後に彼が負けてほしいよ。Saigo ni kare ga makete hoshii yo.I want to see him lose in the end.
- 結衣 Yuiきっといい結末になるはずよ。Kitto ii ketsumatsu ni naru hazu yo.I'm sure it will have a good ending.
