How to Write 恶 (ě/è/wù) — Meaning “Evil, bad, or disgusting.”

Imagine a person with a wicked heart (心) hiding beneath a roof shaped like the top part 亚, which looks like a cross with a bar over it. The cross reminds you of something wrong or evil. This visual helps you associate the shape with the meaning of bad or disgusting.

Start with the top part: write a horizontal line, then a vertical, another horizontal, a vertical, then two more horizontals to finish 亚 (six strokes total). Then add the heart radical (心) below, making sure the bottom dot is centered under the top part and the three dots of the heart are balanced. A common mistake is making the top part too wide or rushing the heart strokes, so take your time to align them.

恶 has the top part 亚 (inferior), while 忝 has 天 (sky/heaven) on top, and 忞 has 文 (literature/culture) on top. Although all three share the heart radical (心), their meanings are distinct: 恶 means evil or disgusting, 忝 means to disgrace or feel unworthy, and 忞 means diligent or strong-willed. The visual difference is clear in the top component.

恶 (ě) appears in common words like 恶心 (ě xīn) meaning "disgusting" or "nauseating," and when pronounced è it means evil (e.g., 邪恶 xié è). Culturally, 恶 is a strong negative word, so Chinese speakers avoid using it directly to describe people in polite conversation, preferring softer terms. It is also used in many idioms, such as 恶贯满盈 (è guàn mǎn yíng) meaning "full of evil deeds."

Common words containing 恶 include: 邪恶 (xié è) — Evil / Wickedness; 恶劣 (è liè) — Vile, harsh, or of poor quality.; 厌恶 (yàn wù) — to detest; to loathe; disgust.