惡棍 / 恶棍
ègùn
The English word "villain" can be translated into Chinese as 惡棍 / 恶棍 (ègùn). Wiktionary also lists 坏家伙 (huàijiāhuo) and 壞蛋 / 坏蛋 (huàidàn).
Meaning: scoundrel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 惡棍 / 恶棍 | ègùn | |
| 坏家伙 | huàijiāhuo | |
| 壞蛋 / 坏蛋 | huàidàn | |
| 無籟 / 无籁 | wúlài | |
| 渾蛋 / 浑蛋 | húndàn | |
| 流氓 | liúmáng | |
| 壞人 / 坏人 | huàirén | |
| 混混兒 / 混混儿 | hùnhùnr | Northern Mandarin |
What does it mean word for word?
The term 壞蛋 / 坏蛋 literally translates to "bad egg".
Which one should you use?
惡棍 / 恶棍 implies a person is a criminal or a scoundrel, whereas 壞人 / 坏人 is a more general and neutral term for any "bad person". 渾蛋 / 浑蛋 is specifically used as an insult to call someone a "bastard" or a "jerk".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
壞人 / 坏人 is a neutral way to describe a bad person. In contrast, 壞蛋 / 坏蛋 and 坏家伙 are informal. 坏家伙 is a colloquial way to say "bad guy" and can sometimes be used playfully or teasingly between friends depending on the tone. 渾蛋 / 浑蛋 is an informal insult used in an angry or frustrated manner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 混混兒 / 混混儿 is used in Northern Mandarin.
How do you pronounce it?
ègùn
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese opera, a 'villain' is often identified visually by 'white' face paint, which symbolizes treachery and craftiness.
- Calling someone 渾蛋 / 浑蛋 literally describes a 'muddy egg', suggesting the person is a useless or deformed piece of waste.
- In modern internet slang, the word 流氓 ('hooligan') is often used jokingly to describe someone acting flirty or suggestive rather than a true criminal.
Examples in context
- 该电影中的反派角色非常具有威慑力。The villainous character in this movie is very intimidating.
- 他就是坏人，我们要小心。He is a villain, we need to be careful.
- 他是那个故事里的恶人，毫无道德可言。He is the villain in that story, utterly devoid of any morality.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “villain” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
