1.
prank; mischief; practical joke (that goes too far)
Playful or joking behavior that crosses the line into being harmful, disruptive, or inappropriate. Stronger than simple ふざけ — implies the behavior has negative consequences or is in poor taste.
悪ふざけはやめなさい。
Stop that mischief.
悪ふざけが原因でけがをした。
Someone got hurt because of a prank.
子供たちの悪ふざけがエスカレートして、先生に厳しく叱られた。
The children's pranks escalated, and they were severely scolded by the teacher.
USAGE:
Implies behavior that has crossed a line — it's not innocent fun but mischief that causes problems. Often used by adults criticizing children's behavior, or in news reports about pranks that caused damage or injury.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悪ふざけをする (to play pranks)
- 悪ふざけが過ぎる (pranks go too far)
- 悪ふざけが原因で (because of a prank)
- 度が過ぎた悪ふざけ (an excessive prank)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- いたずら: prank/mischief — can be innocent or harmful; broader range
- ふざける: to fool around — the base verb; not necessarily negative
- 冗談: joke — verbal humor, not physical pranks