How to say "rigorous" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 過酷かこくna-adjective, nounCovers 'rigorous' when it describes punishingly hard conditions or demands — rigorous training, a rigorous schedule. The emphasis falls on the hardship and strain people endure, not on the strictness of rules.
- 厳重げんじゅうna-adjective, nounFits 'rigorous' meaning stringent or airtight — rigorous security, rigorous checks, rigorous precautions. It stresses that measures are tight and strictly enforced rather than that a person is stern.
- 厳格げんかくna-adjective, nounFits 'rigorous' meaning strict and unbending — rigorous discipline, rigorous enforcement, rigorous standards. It often describes persons, rules, or attitudes that allow no deviation.
- 酷こくna-adjective, nounMostly a blunt judgment that treatment or circumstances are harsh, even cruel; for 'rigorous' rules or checks, turn to 厳格 or 厳重 instead — 酷 is seldom the word you want here.
Use 過酷 for punishingly harsh conditions or training, 厳重 for stringent security and checks, 厳格 for strict discipline and rules, while 酷 mainly labels treatment harsh or cruel and is rarely right for 'rigorous'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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