Two ways to say "best" and "worst": what's the difference between 最低{さいてい} - 最高{さいこう} and 最悪{さいあく} - 最良{さいりょう}?


From Jisho.org, the words [最低{さいてい}](http://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%80%E4%BD%8E)
( _saitei_ ) and [最悪{さいあく}](http://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%80%E6%82%AA) (
_saiaku_ ) both mean "worst", while the words
[最高{さいこう}](http://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%80%E9%AB%98) ( _saikou_ ) and
[最良{さいりょう}](http://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%80%E8%89%AF) ( _sairyou_ ) both mean
"best".

Jisho lists 最低 as antonym of 最高, and lists 最悪 as antonym of 最良. The fact that
Jisho associates to each of them a specific antonym, to me, is a sign that
these two antonym pairs have different usages.

What are the differences between those two pairs, 最低 - 最高 versus 最悪 - 最良?




Usually 一番／最も良い and 一番／最も悪い would be good semantic counterparts of _best_ and
_worst_ in English, respectively. The words you mentioned all have extra
connotations when they seem to translate "best" or "worst".

**最低**

This word literally means (as a superlative) just "lowest", as in 最低気温 "lowest
temperature" or 最低賃金 "lowest (=minimal) wage". It however has another mostly
colloquial meaning that is "base, low" as in "low deed". In this meaning it's
no longer a superlative, which is proven by the fact you can add another 一番
before it.

> 私が出会った中で一番最低な男  
>  _the lowest man_ (= the biggest jerk = the worst man) _I've ever seen_

The slang usage is often shown in katakana (サイテー).

**最高**

The literal meaning is "highest" or "supreme", as in 最高裁判所 "Supreme Court".
This word also has a colloquial meaning that translates into "great feeling,
fantastic, on the top of the world" etc., that could be reworded as "best",
could be written サイコー, and accepts an extra 一番 as well.

> ここの料理は最高だな！  
>  _Their food is awesome (= superb = the best)!_

**最悪**

Its exact nuance in ordinary meaning is something like "most unwanted", as in
最悪の事態 "worst case". Again, the second meaning: "(felt) awful, annoying,
terrible", also written サイアク, and yes, you can say 一番最悪 too. So in this sense,
最悪 and 最高 make antonyms.

> 最悪、地球を脱出しなければならない。  
>  _At worst, we will have to escape the Earth._
>
> 今年に入って一番最悪なミス  
>  _The most terrible (= the worst) mistake since the beginning of this year_

**最良**

It is simply the antonym of 最悪's non-slang meaning, that is "most
satisfactory, optimal". This one has no other meaning, but is a relatively
bookish word. You'll often find another word 最善, which means "the best
possible", more useful than this.




Usually 一番／最も良い and 一番／最も悪い would be good semantic counterparts of _best_ and
_worst_ in English, respectively. The words you mentioned all have extra
connotations when they seem to translate "best" or "worst".

**最低**

This word literally means (as a superlative) just "lowest", as in 最低気温 "lowest
temperature" or 最低賃金 "lowest (=minimal) wage". It however has another mostly
colloquial meaning that is "base, low" as in "low deed". In this meaning it's
no longer a superlative, which is proven by the fact you can add another 一番
before it.

> 私が出会った中で一番最低な男  
>  _the lowest man_ (= the biggest jerk = the worst man) _I've ever seen_

The slang usage is often shown in katakana (サイテー).

**最高**

The literal meaning is "highest" or "supreme", as in 最高裁判所 "Supreme Court".
This word also has a colloquial meaning that translates into "great feeling,
fantastic, on the top of the world" etc., that could be reworded as "best",
could be written サイコー, and accepts an extra 一番 as well.

> ここの料理は最高だな！  
>  _Their food is awesome (= superb = the best)!_

**最悪**

Its exact nuance in ordinary meaning is something like "most unwanted", as in
最悪の事態 "worst case". Again, the second meaning: "(felt) awful, annoying,
terrible", also written サイアク, and yes, you can say 一番最悪 too. So in this sense,
最悪 and 最高 make antonyms.

> 最悪、地球を脱出しなければならない。  
>  _At worst, we will have to escape the Earth._
>
> 今年に入って一番最悪なミス  
>  _The most terrible (= the worst) mistake since the beginning of this year_

**最良**

It is simply the antonym of 最悪's non-slang meaning, that is "most
satisfactory, optimal". This one has no other meaning, but is a relatively
bookish word. You'll often find another word 最善, which means "the best
possible", more useful than this.

