How to say "cruel" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveThe broadest choice: cruel or heartless words and treatment, and by extension anything harsh or simply terrible. When you mean a plain 'that's cruel' in ordinary situations, this is the word you reach for.
- 残酷ざんこくna-adjective, nounThe core word for cruelty itself: brutal, ruthless, merciless acts or treatment, from cruel punishment to a cruel twist of fate; stronger and more pointed than ひどい.
- 無残むざんna-adjective, nounCruel in the sense of atrocious: merciless deeds or outcomes that leave someone in a miserable state, as in a brutal end or crushing defeat; often stresses the wretched result.
- 残虐ざんぎゃくna-adjective, nounThe savage, barbarous face of 'cruel': brutal violence and atrocities, cruelty whose savagery shocks. It fits accounts of barbaric acts of violence, not everyday unkindness.
- 邪険じゃけんna-adjective, nounCruel in the interpersonal sense: hard-hearted, harsh, unkind treatment of a person; the cruelty lies in coldness of manner, not brutality or violence. Often closer to 'heartless' than 'cruel'.
Use 「ひどい」 for cruel or harsh treatment in general, 残酷 for merciless brutality, 無残 for atrocious, miserable outcomes, 残虐 for savage, barbarous violence, and 邪険 for hard-hearted, unkind treatment of people.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- ひどいcruel
- 残酷ざんこくcruel
- 無残むざんcruel
- 残虐ざんぎゃくcruel
- 邪険じゃけんcruel
- 残忍ざんにんbrutal
- 過酷かこくsevere
- 非情ひじょうcold-hearted
- むごいcruel
- 酷薄こくはくcruel
- 残忍酷薄ざんにんこくはくcruel
- ドイヒーcruel
- 心無いこころないinconsiderate
- あこぎgreedy
- 獰悪どうあくviolent
- 因業いんごうheartless
- 惨烈さんれつhorrible
- 残忍冷酷ざんにんれいこくatrocious and cold-blooded
- 薄情はくじょうunfeeling
- 意地悪いいじわるいill-natured
- むごたらしい(incredibly) cruel
- つらいcruel
- 殺生せっしょうcruel
- 腹黒はらぐろcruel (contrary to outward behavior)
- 罪作りつみつくりcruel
- つらたんcruel
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
