How to say "brutal" in Japanese

• 残酷ざんこくJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounThe broadest term for cruelty itself: brutal or cruel treatment, acts, or fates that show no mercy for their victim. When unsure which word fits, this is usually the safe choice.
  怪物かいぶつは残酷ざんこくな微笑ほほえみを浮うかべた。↗

  The monster's smile was cruel.
• 凶暴きょうぼうCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'brutal' as ferocious or savage: the violent, uncontrolled nature of an animal or a person given to attacking. Think a savage dog or violent temper rather than cruelty toward a victim.
• 残虐ざんぎゃくCommon
  na-adjective, nounBrutal in a savage, barbarous way: acts of violence whose sheer cruelty shocks or appalls. It stresses the barbarity of the act itself, more graphic than 残酷.
  警官けいかんたちはその残虐ざんぎゃくな殺人さつじん事件じけんの手掛てがかりを捜さがしている。↗

  The cops are searching for clues to the cruel murder.
• 残忍ざんにんCommon
  na-adjective, nounCharacterizes a person as heartless and merciless — a cold-blooded, brutal individual. It highlights the cruelty of the person behind an act, as with a ruthless criminal.
  かつて残忍ざんにんな王様おうさまがいた。↗

  Once upon a time, there lived a cruel king.
• 凶悪きょうあくCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'brutal' in the sense of heinous or atrocious: crimes of shocking gravity and the criminals who commit them, as in a brutal or heinous crime.
  最近さいきんの凶悪きょうあく事件じけんをニュースで見みるたび、バーチャルな世界せかいと生いきる世界せかいの区別くべつがなくなった若者わかものが急増きゅうぞうしていることに気付きづかされる。↗

  These days when I hear about these horrible incidents on the news I get the feeling that more and more young people are losing their ability to distinguish between real and virtual worlds.

Choose 残酷 for cruel, merciless treatment in general, 凶暴 for ferocious people or animals, 残虐 for savage, barbarous acts, 残忍 for heartless individuals, and 凶悪 for heinous crimes and criminals.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 残酷ざんこくcruel
• 凶暴きょうぼうferocious
• 残虐ざんぎゃくcruel
• 残忍ざんにんbrutal
• 凶悪きょうあくatrocious
• 殺伐さつばつbrutal (atmosphere, society, etc.)
• 残忍性ざんにんせいbrutal (nature)
• むごたらしい(incredibly) cruel
• 残忍酷薄ざんにんこくはくcruel
• 残忍非道ざんにんひどうcruel and inhuman
• 残忍冷酷ざんにんれいこくatrocious and cold-blooded
• むごいcruel
• 酷薄こくはくcruel
• 獣的じゅうてきbestial
• えぐいnasty
• 殺生せっしょうcruel