悪口(わるくち)

わるくち
noun
slander, bad-mouthing
See also: 悪口(わるぐち) (alternate reading)
1. slander, bad-mouthing, speaking ill of
Negative speech about someone, typically behind their back; verbal abuse or criticism of a person.
人(ひと)の悪口(わるくち)を言(い)うのはよくない。
It's not good to speak ill of others.
悪口を言う = to speak ill of, to badmouth
彼(かれ)は陰(かげ)で私(わたし)の悪口(わるくち)を言(い)っていた。
He was speaking ill of me behind my back.
陰で = behind someone's back
悪口(わるくち)ばかり言(い)う人(ひと)は信用(しんよう)できない。
You can't trust someone who only badmouths others.
友達(ともだち)の悪口(わるくち)を聞(き)いて、とても嫌(いや)な気持(きも)ちになった。
I heard someone badmouthing my friend, and it made me feel really unpleasant.
悪口を聞く = to hear someone being spoken ill of
本人(ほんにん)がいないところで悪口(わるくち)を言(い)うのは卑怯(ひきょう)だと思(おも)う。
I think it's cowardly to badmouth someone when they're not around.

USAGE: 悪口(わるくち) refers to negative speech about someone, especially when said behind their back. It has a clear negative connotation.

COMMON PATTERNS:

READING NOTE: Can also be read as わるぐち, though わるくち is more common.

CONTRAST:

  • 悪口(わるくち) - speaking ill of someone
  • 批判(ひはん) - criticism (more neutral, can be constructive)
  • 陰口(かげぐち) - gossip, backbiting (specifically behind someone's back)

Related Words

Contrast: 批判(ひはん) (criticism (neutral))
Synonym: 陰口(かげぐち) (gossip behind back)
core
Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.5.28 3:19
03500/03794_warukuchi