How to say "intense" in Japanese

• 強烈きょうれつJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers intense in the sense of powerful sensory or emotional impact—intense heat, light, colors, or impressions. It suggests something that strikes you strongly and is hard to ignore.
  彼かれの返報へんぽうは鼻はなへの強烈きょうれつなパンチだった。↗

  His answer was a hard punch on the nose.
• 猛烈もうれつJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers intense with a fierce, aggressive energy, as in violent drive or force. It often describes people or efforts attacking something with tremendous, unrelenting vigor.
  警官けいかんがやってくるのを見みると彼かれは猛烈もうれつに走はしり出だした。↗

  When he saw a policeman coming, he began to run like anything.
• 激甚げきじんCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers intense as severe and vehement damage or suffering, such as from disasters or blows. Being formal or literary, it appears in written accounts rather than casual speech.
• 甚だしいはなはだしいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers intense in the sense of extreme or excessive—a difference, loss, or behavior that is intense because it goes far beyond what is normal or acceptable.
  あんなことを彼女かのじょに言ゆうなんて非常識ひじょうしきも甚はなはだしい。↗

  It's quite absurd of you to tell her that sort of thing.
• ひどいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe everyday colloquial word for intense things gone wrong: intense pain, weather, or treatment. It usually carries a negative judgment of severity rather than neutral intensity.

Choose 強烈 for strong sensory impact, 猛烈 for fierce violent intensity, 激甚 for severe formal or literary usage, 「甚だしい」 for extremes or excess, and 「ひどい」 for everyday complaints about severity.

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

• 強烈きょうれつstrong
• 猛烈もうれつfierce
• 激甚げきじんintense
• 甚だしいはなはだしいextreme
• 凛々りんりんsevere
• 凛冽りんれつbiting (cold)
• どぎついgaudy
• ハイテンションexcited
• だだover-
• 厳しいきびしいintense (e.g. cold)
• ひどいviolent
• きついstrong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol)
• 激しいはげしいextreme
• 強度きょうどstrong (e.g. glasses)
• しきりgreat
• アシッドharsh (e.g. criticism)
• 強いつよいintense
• 深いふかいintense
• 熱いあついintense