1.
ill will; malice; ill intent
A wish to harm or an intention behind a hurtful act. Most often used in the negative — 悪気はない — to say that no harm was meant.
悪気はなかった。
I meant no harm.
彼に悪気はないと思う。
I don't think he has any ill intent.
悪気があって言ったわけではない。
It's not as if I said it with bad intentions.
Almost always used in the negative to excuse or explain away something that may have caused offense.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悪気はない: to mean no harm
- 悪気なく: without meaning any harm
- 悪気があって: with bad intentions (usually negated)
USAGE:
Saying 悪気はなかった is a common way to apologize for an unintended slight — close to 'I didn't mean anything by it' in English.