1.
insult, bad-mouthing, speaking ill of someone
Negative or malicious talk about a person, often behind their back. Covers everything from mild gossip to harsh verbal abuse.
悪口を言う。
To bad-mouth someone.
人の悪口ばかり言ってはいけない。
You shouldn't always be bad-mouthing other people.
陰で悪口を言われていたことを知って、とてもショックだった。
I was very shocked to learn that people had been talking behind my back.
READING:
The standard modern reading is わるぐち. The reading わるくち also exists but is less common in everyday speech.
USAGE:
The most common collocation is 悪口を言う (to say bad things about someone, to bad-mouth). The word often implies talking about someone negatively in their absence.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悪口を言う: to bad-mouth, to speak ill of
- 悪口を叩く: to hurl insults (stronger)
- 陰で悪口: talking behind someone's back
- 悪口雑言: verbal abuse, a stream of insults
Related Words
Related:
悪口 (alternate reading)