凶悪

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 凶悪 is read as きょうあく and is an adjectival noun meaning heinous, vicious, or dangerously wicked when describing a crime, offender, or appearance.
• Basic usage: Use 凶悪な犯人 for a vicious criminal and 凶悪な顔つき for a vicious or sinister facial expression.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference between 凶悪 and 残酷
  • The former stresses the dangerous wickedness of a person or crime, whereas the latter stresses cruelty in an act or attitude that causes suffering.