How to say "harsh" in Japanese

• えぐいCommon
  i-adjectiveCovers harshness of taste or physical feeling — an acrid, pungent, astringent bite. It is slang, usually written in kana alone, and points to taste and sensory feeling rather than criticism or conditions.
  この鍋物なべものはえぐいよ。↗

  This stew tastes acrid.
• 過酷かこくCommon
  na-adjective, nounHarsh in the sense of punishing conditions or demands — severity that tests endurance, as when work, travel, or an environment is brutally hard. This is the word for harsh circumstances, not harsh words.
  降伏こうふく条件じょうけんは過酷かこくだった。↗

  The surrender terms were harsh.
• 手厳しいてきびしいCommon
  i-adjectiveHarsh criticism or harsh treatment directed at a person — a scolding, judgment, or response that is severe and unrelenting toward what someone has said or done.
• 酷こくCommon
  na-adjective, nounA broad, compact word for outright severity: harsh, stringent, or rigorous. Use it when the point is sheer severity of treatment, rules, or demands rather than one particular flavor of harshness.
• 邪険じゃけんCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes a cold, hard-hearted manner toward people: harsh, unkind treatment, such as turning someone away or dealing with them without warmth. The harshness here is of attitude, not of taste or conditions.
  邪険じゃけんにしないで下くださいよ！↗

  Please don't be cold!

For harsh taste or sensation use the slang 「えぐい」; for harsh conditions 過酷; for harsh criticism or treatment of a person 「手厳しい」; for plain severity 酷; for cold, unkind personal treatment 邪険.

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

• えぐいharsh (taste, feeling, etc.)
• 過酷かこくsevere
• 手厳しいてきびしいharsh (criticism, treatment, etc.)
• 酷こくsevere
• 邪険じゃけんcruel
• ひどいcruel
• きついtough
• 渋いしぶいastringent
• 荒いあらいrough
• 荒々しいあらあらしいrough
• 耳障りみみざわりhard (on the ears)
• 手ひどいてひどいsevere
• とげとげしいsharp (words)
• 峻烈しゅんれつsevere
• スパルタ式スパルタしきSpartan
• 辛辣しんらつbitter (e.g. criticism)
• どぎついgaudy
• ドイヒーcruel
• こっぴどい(really) terrible
• 辛いからいharsh (criticism)
• つらいcruel
• 厳しいきびしいintense (e.g. cold)
• 厳粛げんしゅくharsh (e.g. truth)
• 険悪けんあくstern (expression)
• 険けんharsh (look)
• アシッドharsh (e.g. criticism)
• 辛めからめstrict
• 尖ったとがったsharp (voice, words, etc.)
• つらたんcruel
• 辛口からくちharsh