How to say "severe" in Japanese

• 厳しいきびしいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers the general sense of severe, with strong nuance of strictness or unsparing harshness, as in severe rules, criticism, or a severe teacher or boss.
  彼かれは厳きびしい批判ひはんにさらされた。↗

  He was subjected to severe criticism.
• きついJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveRefers to something severe in the sense of tough, hard, or demanding on a person, such as severe work schedules, training, or requirements that push someone to their limits.
  フーッ、この坂道さかみちはきついよ。でも帰かえりは楽らくだよね。↗

  Whew! This is a tough hill. But coming back sure will be a breeze.
• 過酷かこくCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes severe, harsh, even cruel conditions or circumstances, such as severe labor, environments, or fates; it suggests suffering imposed by the situation itself rather than by a person's strictness.
  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.
• シビアCommon
  na-adjectiveA loanword covering severe or strict in the sense of unforgiving, hard-nosed judgment or assessment, as in severe evaluation or a severe stance on rules; it carries a businesslike, unsentimental feel.
• 重度じゅうどCommon
  no-adjectiveRestricted to the sense of severe describing illness, disability, or similar conditions of serious degree; it is not a way to call conditions, criticism, or treatment severe in other senses.

Use 「厳しい」 for strictness or harshness, 「きつい」 for demanding toughness, 過酷 for brutal conditions, 「シビア」 as a loanword for strict unforgiving judgment, and 重度 only for severe illness or disability.

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

• 厳しいきびしいsevere
• きついtough
• 過酷かこくsevere
• シビアsevere
• 重度じゅうどsevere (illness, disability, etc.)
• 深刻しんこくserious
• 強烈きょうれつstrong
• 厳重げんじゅうstrict
• 厳格げんかくstrict
• 猛烈もうれつfierce
• 大だいlarge
• 酷こくsevere
• 痛烈つうれつsevere
• 手痛いていたいsevere
• 手厳しいてきびしいharsh (criticism, treatment, etc.)
• 激甚げきじんintense
• ひどいcruel
• 甚だしいはなはだしいextreme
• 凛々りんりんsevere
• 苛烈かれつsevere
• 手ひどいてひどいsevere
• 峻烈しゅんれつsevere
• 峻酷しゅんこくsevere (personality)
• 熾烈しれつfierce (fight, competition, etc.)
• 凛冽りんれつbiting (cold)
• 災害級さいがいきゅうdisaster-level (heat, rainfall, etc.)
• 辛辣しんらつbitter (e.g. criticism)
• こっぴどい(really) terrible
• 峻厳しゅんげんstrict
• スパルタ式スパルタしきSpartan
• ドイヒーcruel
• 辛いからいharsh (criticism)
• 険しいけわしいgrim
• やかましいstrict
• 非常ひじょうextreme
• えらいawful
• 切実せつじつpressing
• いかめしいstrict (e.g. security)
• 猛もうextreme
• アシッドharsh (e.g. criticism)
• スパルタstrict
• しきりgreat
• あまりextreme
• 重いおもいserious (punishment, illness, etc.)
• 熱いあついintense
• あんましextreme