adjective
angry, evil
A1
böse means either 'angry' or 'evil/malicious'. It’s a gradable adjective with comparative böser and superlative am bösesten. Used predicatively and attributively (ein böser Mensch). Not a participle or reflexive; context determines whether it denotes anger or moral badness. Can be intensified (sehr böse).
Examples
Die Nachbarn waren böse, weil jemand den Baum ohne Erlaubnis fällte.
The neighbors were angry because someone cut down the tree without permission.
Er ist böse, weil sein Computer kaputt ist.
He is angry because his computer is broken.
In der Geschichte war der Bösewicht wirklich böse.
In the story the villain was truly evil.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a little cartoon face with steam coming out of its ears labeled 'böse' (angry) and a dark shadow labeled 'evil'
sounds like 'boast' (angry boasting) to remind you of loud anger
Notes
Böse can mean 'angry' (temporary emotion) or 'evil / malicious' (moral quality). Watch context. It is gradable (böser, am bösesten).