Meaning
邪恶 describes something or someone that is morally corrupt, wicked, or malevolent. It carries a strong negative connotation and is used to characterize actions, intentions, people, or forces that are fundamentally bad or harmful. The term appears frequently in formal contexts, literature, and discussions of morality.
Usage
邪恶 is a relatively formal and serious term, commonly used in written Chinese, news reports, literature, and religious or philosophical contexts. It's stronger than casual words for 'bad' and implies genuine moral corruption or malicious intent. Native speakers use it to describe villains in stories, criminal acts, or abstract evil forces.
Examples
- 01在这个故事中，英雄最终战胜了邪恶。, .In this story, the hero ultimately defeated evil.
- 02我们必须抵制一切邪恶势力的侵害。.We must resist the harm from all evil forces.
Characters
Common collocations
- 邪恶势力evil forces
- 邪恶的行为evil behavior/actions
- 战胜邪恶to defeat evil
- 邪恶的念头evil thoughts
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters independently mean 'evil' or 'wicked,' creating a compound that reinforces and intensifies the concept of moral corruption. 邪 originally referred to deviation from the correct path, while 恶 represents badness or wickedness.