劣悪

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 劣悪(れつあく) is a strong negative assessment of extremely poor conditions or surroundings.
• Basic usage: It states that extremely poor sanitation at the shelter became a problem.
  • 避難所の劣悪な衛生環境が問題になった。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Strength of the assessment
  • It emphasizes seriously poor conditions more strongly than 悪い. It is not a neutral description of a slight inconvenience.
• Modifying a noun
  • Use な as in 劣悪な環境 or 劣悪な条件.