たちが悪い[tachi ga warui]: bad character

May 27, 2020

It is a phrase and it means “bad character”. It is used when someone/something is nasty. You can also use its adjective form ”たちの悪い”.

I’ve been under the weather for a few days. My fever has gone down but my cough isn't getting better. It's a bad cold.
ここ数日体調が悪い。熱は下がったけど、咳が止まらない。たちの悪い風邪だ。
Ken is complaining about Leo's behavior.

  • Ken : I asked Meg on a date but she blew me off.
    メグを(デートに)誘ったけど、断られたよ。
  • Leo : Man, sorry to hear that.
    そりゃ、残念。
  • Ken : Did you know Meg has a boyfriend?
    彼氏がいるって、知っていた?
  • Leo : Ah, yeah. I often see them together.
    あっ、ああ。よく一緒にいるのを見るから。
  • Ken : Why didn't you tell me even though you knew I liked her? You're such an asshole.
    俺が彼女を気に入っている(or好き)って知っていて、なんで教えてくれないんだよ?お前、たち(が)悪いなー
  • Leo : Sorry. I didn't know you were serious.
    ごめん。マジだとは思わなかった。
Meg was involved in a traffic accident. She is talking to Amy about it at their office.
  • Meg : I was late today. I got into a traffic accident, and the police thought I caused it. The actual culprit had already left when the police came.
    今日遅刻しちゃった。交通事故に巻き込まれて、加害者(*1)だと思われちゃった。警察が来た時には、すでに犯人がいなかったから。
  • Amy : Did he escape?
    犯人、逃げたの?
  • Meg : Yes. The police said that he had caused such accidents several times before on purpose. It seems speeding relieves his stress.
    うん。警察曰く(*2)、似たような事件を数回引き起こしている(*3)らしい。スピードを出して、ストレスを発散しているらしいよ。
  • Amy : OMG. That is a nasty incident.
    最悪。たちの悪い事件に巻き込まれたね。
  • Meg : What makes things even worse is that he doesn't care that he is bothering other people.
    他人に迷惑をかけている事に気付いていない事が、余計(*4)たちが悪い

*1 加害者<-->被害者
*2 曰く(いわく) is another expression of "が言うには".
*3 事件を(引き)起こす means to cause an incident.
*4 余計(よけい) means "even more" in the context.

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