悪しからず

あしからず · ashikarazu · JLPT N1 · adverb

don't take me wrong

悪し (bad) + から + ず (not): it is not bad, so please do not take offense

Ashi means bad, and the -zu ending is negative, so the old sense is not bad. Say it before a blunt remark to soften it, or as a polite apology.

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