地獄|じごくjigoku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, Buddhismhell realm; Naraka
  2. noun, ChristianityHell
    魔王まおうは言いった。「俺おれが負まけるわっきゃねーべ。審判しんぱんは皆みな地獄じごくにいるのだ」。↗
    "How can I lose?" answered Satan. "All the umpires are down here in Hell."
  3. nounhell; misery; nightmare; inferno
    そこはこの世よの地獄じごくとなった。↗
    The place became a hell on earth.
  4. nounplace where a volcano or hot springs constantly spew smoke or steam
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymヘルNeutralLoanword for hell, mostly in titles and names; in everyday speech 「地獄」 is the normal choice.
  • Synonym奈落ならくWrittenWritten/formal term for hell that also covers the very bottom or utter despair, as in 「奈落の底」; can also mean the trap room beneath a stage.
  • SynonymインフェルノNeutralLoanword for a fiery, inferno-like hell or scene; mostly seen in film and game titles.
  • Related生き地獄いきじごくNeutralMetaphor for suffering that makes life itself feel like hell; broader expressions such as 「受験地獄」 also exist.
  • Relatedこの世の地獄NeutralSet phrase likening the horrors of this world to hell; 「地獄」 itself also names the religious hell.
  • Antonym天国てんごくNeutralAntonym of 「地獄」 in the heaven-and-hell pairing; means heaven or paradise.
  • Antonym極楽ごくらくNeutralBuddhist antonym of 「地獄」: the Pure Land paradise of ultimate bliss.

Use 「地獄」 for the religious hell and for figurative misery like 「通勤地獄」. For the very bottom or utter despair choose 「奈落」; for torment while alive, 「生き地獄」. Loanwords 「ヘル」 and 「インフェルノ」 appear mainly in titles. Antonyms: 「天国」, 「極楽」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. (宗教しゅうきょう全般ぜんぱん)生前せいぜんの罪つみによって死後しごに送おくられ、永久えいきゅうに苦痛くつうを受うけ続つづける世界せかい。
  2. 六道りくどうの一ひとつである地獄じごく道どうのこと。六道りくどう各界かっかいにおいて、道徳どうとくに反はんすることを行おこなった者ものが送おくられ、罪つみが償つぐなわれるまで、厳きびしい苦痛くつうに苛さいなまれる世界せかいとされる。
  3. 耐たえ難がたい苦痛くつうを受うけ続つづける場所ばしょ。
  4. 相手あいてを陥おとしいれて捕食ほしょくする動植物どうしょくぶつ。
  5. 私娼ししょう。
  6. 「地獄じごく宿しゅく」。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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