How to say "grave" in Japanese

• 墓はかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe physical grave: the burial place itself, the site you visit and tend. When English 'grave' means the spot where someone is buried rather than seriousness, this is the word you want.
  私は彼かれの墓はかを立ち去たちさり難がたかった。↗

  I hesitated to leave his grave.
• 深刻しんこくJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounThe figurative 'grave' of abstract matters: a grave situation, problem, or shortage — something serious, severe, or acute. This is the word for 'the situation is grave,' never for a burial site.
  事態じたいは非常ひじょうに深刻しんこくである。↗

  The situation is very serious.
• 重厚じゅうこうCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes people, buildings, or music as weighty, solid, and dignified; its 'grave' is this heavy, imposing quality. It is not the word for a grave problem or a gravesite — see 深刻 and 墓.
• 厳粛げんしゅくCommon
  na-adjectiveThe 'grave' of solemnity: dignified, serious occasions, ceremonies, and attitudes. Use it when 'grave' describes the solemn air of an event or the gravity of someone's manner, not a problem's severity.
  お坊ぼうさんが突然とつぜん大声おおごえで笑わらい出だし、厳粛げんしゅくな雰囲気ふんいきを台無だいなしにした。↗

  All at once, the Buddhist priest burst into laughter, spoiling the solemn atmosphere.
• 墳墓ふんぼCommon
  nounAnother word for a grave or tomb, covering the same ground as 墓 but with a weightier, more formal feel. For an actual gravesite, 墓 is the word learners will almost always want.
  全ぜん地球ちきゅうは有名人ゆうめいじんの墳墓ふんぼである。↗

  The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.

For the burial site use 墓 (or the weightier 墳墓); for a grave situation or problem use 深刻; for solemn dignity of occasion or manner use 厳粛; 重厚 describes weighty solidity and is rarely the 'grave' you mean.

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

• 墓はかgrave
• 深刻しんこくserious
• 重厚じゅうこうprofound
• 厳粛げんしゅくgrave
• 墳墓ふんぼgrave
• 由々しいゆゆしいgrave
• 墓穴ぼけつgrave (pit)
• 厳然げんぜんgrave
• 沈痛ちんつうgrave
• 厳かおごそかsolemn (ceremony, atmosphere, etc.)
• 危なっかしいあぶなっかしいdangerous
• 重々しいおもおもしいserious
• 謹厳きんげんstern
• 真面目まじめserious
• 重大じゅうだいserious
• いかめしいstern
• 塚穴つかあなgrave
• グレイブgrave
• 由々しきゆゆしきgrave
• グラーヴェgrave (tempo indication)
• 儼乎げんこgrave
• 荘重そうちょうsolemn
• 危なかしいあぶなかしいdangerous
• グレイヴアクセントgrave accent
• しかつめらしいformal
• 深重じんじゅうprofound
• 大変たいへんserious
• 青山せいざんgrave
• 危ないあぶないin danger
• 重いおもいimportant (position, responsibility, etc.)