How to say "ill-treatment" in Japanese

• 虐待ぎゃくたいCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveThe everyday word for abuse or ill-treatment: cruel or violent treatment of a child, an animal, or the like. If you mean abuse in any ordinary context, this is the word you want.
  彼かれは幼児ようじ虐待ぎゃくたいで罰ばっせられた。↗

  He was punished for child abuse.
• 虐遇ぎゃくぐう
  noun, suru verbA less common word meaning harsh or unfair treatment of a person. For ordinary 'abuse' or 'ill-treatment' it is seldom the word you want — 虐待 is the usual choice.

For the ordinary sense of 'ill-treatment' — abusing a child, an animal, or the like — use 虐待; 虐遇 is a less common word for harsh treatment that learners will rarely need.

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

• 虐待ぎゃくたいabuse
• 虐遇ぎゃくぐうill-treatment