1.
good or bad; right or wrong; merits and demerits; quality
The relative merit or quality of something, encompassing both its good and bad aspects. Used when evaluating or judging something from multiple angles.
善し悪しは別として、決まったことだ。
Regardless of whether it's good or bad, it's been decided.
この方法の善し悪しを検討する必要がある。
We need to examine the merits and demerits of this method.
物事の善し悪しを判断できる年齢になった。
He has reached an age where he can judge right from wrong.
USAGE:
Commonly used when evaluating something without committing to a judgment: 善し悪しは別として (setting aside whether it's good or bad). Also used to talk about the quality of results or outcomes.
KANJI NOTE:
Also written as 良し悪し. Both spellings are common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 善し悪しは別として (regardless of merits)
- 善し悪しを判断する (to judge good and bad)
- 善し悪しがある (to have pros and cons)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 良否: pass or fail — more formal, used for evaluation outcomes
- 是非: right and wrong — more formal; also commonly used as an adverb meaning "by all means"