悪縁

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 悪縁 (あくえん) is a noun for a harmful or ill-fated connection that is difficult to escape.
• Basic usage: 悪縁を断つ treats the painful relationship as something to sever, while 二人の悪縁が物語の軸になる makes the pair’s recurring connection central to the plot.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A relationship, not merely a bad event
  • Both 相手との悪縁 and 二人の悪縁 denote a connection between people. The examples do not support broadening it to any single misfortune or to bad luck in general.