残酷・惨酷・残刻・惨刻|ざんこくzankoku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
残酷残酷 is written entirely in kanji and is the most common form. It is the form beginners should use.
惨酷惨酷 is written entirely in kanji but is rarely used. Beginners should normally use 残酷 instead.
残刻残刻 is written entirely in kanji but is rarely used. Beginners should normally use 残酷 instead.
惨刻惨刻 is written entirely in kanji but is rarely used. Beginners should normally use 残酷 instead.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nouncruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless; inhuman
Conjugation
| Plain form | 残酷（ざんこく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 残酷です（ざんこくです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 残酷ではない（ざんこくではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 残酷ではありません（ざんこくではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 残酷だった（ざんこくだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 残酷ではなかった（ざんこくではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 残酷で（ざんこくで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 残酷に（ざんこくに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 残酷なら（ざんこくなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym残忍ざんにんNeutralFor doing heartless things without batting an eye; stresses cold-blooded methods, while 「残酷」 can also describe a harsh reality.
- Synonym無情むじょうNeutralHeartless and unfeeling; can also mean lifeless or inanimate, while 「残酷」 stresses cruelty.
- Synonym冷酷れいこくNeutralCold and heartless; stresses an icy attitude, while 「残酷」 stresses cruelty.
- Synonym凶悪きょうあくNeutralVicious and brutal, often said of criminals; 「残酷」 is broader.
- Synonym残虐ざんぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal: savage brutality; stresses cruel methods, while 「残酷」 is broader.
- Synonym無残むざんWrittenWritten/formal: ghastly or miserable, too horrible to watch; 「残酷」 stresses cruel acts.
- Synonym非道ひどうWrittenWritten/formal and somewhat archaic: against reason and humanity; 「残酷」 is more common.
- Synonym暴虐ぼうぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal: tyranny and atrocities, as of oppressive rule; broader 「残酷」 also covers a harsh reality.
- SynonymひどいCasualSame word as 「惨い」 above; written 「酷い」 it reads むごい and means cruel or horrific. Note that 「酷い」 also reads ひどい with a broader sense.
- Synonym無慈悲むじひNeutralCold-hearted, with no mercy or compassion; 「残酷」 focuses on cruel acts or a harsh reality.
- Synonym非人道的ひじんどうてきWrittenWritten/formal: inhumane, violating humanitarian principles; broader 「残酷」 also covers a harsh reality.
- Synonym苛虐かぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal and rare: cruel treatment or abuse; say 「残虐」 or 「虐待」 instead.
- Synonym酷薄こくはくWrittenWritten/formal: callous and hard-hearted, showing no sympathy; 「残酷」 stresses cruel acts.
- Synonym酷悪こくあくWrittenWritten/formal and rare: wicked and inhumane; 「残酷」 is the usual word.
- Related極悪ごくあくWrittenWritten/formal: heinous, utterly wicked; stresses the evil itself, while 「残酷」 stresses cruel means.
- Related過酷かこくNeutralHarsh conditions or environments, as in 「過酷な労働」; 「残酷」 stresses cruelty.
- Related凶暴きょうぼうNeutralFerocious and unruly, stressing violence; 「残酷」 stresses merciless cruelty.
- Related冷酷無残れいこくむざんWrittenWritten/formal four-character compound: cold-hearted and cruel; stronger in tone than 「残酷」.
- RelatedむごいCasualNative Japanese word, common in speech: cruel, or a horrific and miserable state; 「残酷」 leans written.
- Related不人情ふにんじょうWrittenWritten/formal: heartless and lacking human warmth; 「残酷」 stresses cruel acts.
- Related手ひどいてひどいNeutralDescribes a heavy blow or harsh criticism; 「残酷」 stresses cruelty.
- Antonym優しいやさしいNeutralAntonym: kind, gentle and caring — the opposite of cold, cruel 「残酷」.
- Antonym慈悲深いじひぶかいNeutralAntonym: deeply compassionate and merciful — the opposite of merciless 「残酷」.
Use 「残酷」 for cruel acts or a harsh reality, as in 「残酷な現実」. For someone who does heartless things without flinching, say 「残忍」; for an icy attitude, 「冷酷」; for viciousness, 「凶悪」; for harsh conditions, 「過酷」. 「惨い／酷い」(むごい) is the everyday spoken choice, while many alternatives here (非人道的, 残虐, 無残, 極悪, 暴虐, etc.) are written/formal or rare. The antonyms are 「慈悲深い」 for merciful kindness and 「優しい」 for warmth and gentleness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
