悪意（あくい、akui）
- malice

The Japanese word 悪意 (あくい, *akui*) directly translates to "malice," "ill will," "bad faith," or "hostility." It signifies a deliberate intention to harm, cause trouble, or act in a way that is knowingly detrimental to someone or something. It implies a conscious desire to do something negative.

⚫︎悪意のある行動は許されない。 Translation: Actions with malice are not permitted. ⚫︎彼は悪意を持って嘘をついた。 Translation: He lied with ill will. ⚫︎その噂は、彼女に対する悪意から生まれた。 Translation: That rumor originated from malice towards her.

This word is used to describe situations where someone acts with a negative intention or motive. It's often used in formal or semi-formal contexts. It's suitable for discussing legal matters, interpersonal conflicts, or situations where someone's actions are suspected of being malicious.

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji as 悪意 (あくい). ⚫︎The reading is always あくい (akui) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 敵意 (てきい, *teki i*): hostility, animosity. ⚫︎ 意地悪 (いじわる, *ijiwaru*): mean-spiritedness, spitefulness. ⚫︎ 悪意のある (あくいのある, *akui no aru*): malicious; this is a descriptive phrase using 悪意.

⚫︎ 善意 (ぜんい, *zen'i*): goodwill, good faith. ⚫︎ 好意 (こうい, *koui*): kindness, favor. ⚫︎ 親切心 (しんせつしん, *shinsetsu shin*): kindness, consideration.

彼は《悪意を持ってその情報を流したと疑われている。》 ・Translation: He is suspected of having released that information with malice. ・Explanation: This sentence implies a suspicion that someone acted with a harmful intention when sharing information.

彼女の言葉には、私に対する《悪意は全く感じられなかった。》 ・Translation: I felt absolutely no malice towards me in her words. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the absence of negative intent or bad feeling from the speaker's perspective.

The word 悪意 is a combination of two kanji: 悪 (あく, *aku*) meaning "bad," "evil," or "wrong," and 意 (い, *i*) meaning "thought," "mind," "intention," or "meaning." Therefore, the literal meaning reflects the intention that is inherently negative.