悪い
warui
The moment 'bad' turns into an apology
The picture You look at what's in front of you, shake your head, and turn it away as not good enough. 悪い is the head shake that turns it away; いい is the nod that lets it pass.
Where the picture shows up in 悪い
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in bad condition
体の調子が悪いです。
karada no chōshi ga warui desu
I'm not feeling well.
Elbows on the desk, a hand on the forehead, a long breath out
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poor quality
ここは電波が悪いです。
koko wa denpa ga warui desu
The signal is bad here.
The phone comes away from the ear and the screen shows one lonely bar
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my fault
遅れて悪かった。
okure-te warukatta
Sorry I'm late — my bad.
Coming through the door with a quick bow and a raised palm
悪かった is a casual apology between people who are close — 'my bad'. Adding です makes it sound off.
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on bad terms
二人は仲が悪いです。
futari wa naka ga warui desu
Those two don't get along.
Two people in the same corridor avoid eyes and peel off in opposite directions
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bad weather
天気が悪いので中止します。
tenki ga warui node chūshi shi-masu
The weather's bad, so we're calling it off.
One glance at the rain outside, then the schedule comes off the wall
All of it in one picture
悪い is one picture: a head shake that turns something away. Shake at your body and you're under the weather; shake at the signal and the call keeps dropping; shake at the sky and the event is off. Shake at two people and they avoid each other — and shake your head at your own behavior, and that is exactly how an apology sounds.