na-adjective, noun
Abstract noun or adjectival noun describing a morally corrupt or evil nature. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
彼の奸悪な性格がついに露見した。
His wicked nature was finally exposed.
na-adjective, noun
Refers to a person who is evil or morally corrupt. Less common than the abstract sense; often found in historical or dramatic narratives.
物語では、奸悪が最後に罰を受ける。
In the story, the wicked person is punished in the end.
悪人 is a more common and neutral term for 'bad person' or 'villain', while 奸悪 is more literary and emphasizes cunning or treacherous wickedness.
邪悪 is a common word for 'evil' or 'wickedness', used in both abstract and concrete contexts. 奸悪 is rarer and carries a nuance of crafty or treacherous evil.
Compound of 奸 (kan, 'cunning, wicked') and 悪 (aku, 'evil, bad'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination straightforwardly conveys 'wickedness' or 'wicked person'.