激しい・烈しい・劇しい|はげしいhageshii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
激しい激しい is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it as the default spelling when writing this word.
烈しい烈しい is a rarely used written variant of 激しい. You may encounter it, but beginners should normally write 激しい instead.
劇しい劇しい is a rarely used written variant of 激しい. You may encounter it, but beginners should normally write 激しい instead.
Definitions
- i-adjectiveviolent; furious; tempestuous
- i-adjectiveextreme; intense; fierce; strong
- i-adjectivefervent; vehement
- i-adjectiveincessant; relentless
- i-adjectiveprecipitous; steep
Conjugation
| Plain form | 激しい（はげしい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 激しいです（はげしいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 激しくない（はげしくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 激しくありません（はげしくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 激しかった（はげしかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 激しくなかった（はげしくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 激しくて（はげしくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 激しく（はげしく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 激しければ（はげしければ） |
| kattara | 激しかったら（はげしかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym猛烈もうれつNeutralDescribes extremely strong force or degree, as in 「猛烈な台風」; also an adverb meaning 'very'. Stresses the force of the momentum more than 「激しい」.
- Synonym激烈げきれつWrittenWritten/formal prose for intensity, as in 「激烈な競争」; mostly used of competition and arguments.
- Synonym強烈きょうれつNeutralStrong with a big impact on the perceiver, as in 「強烈な印象」; centers on how something strikes you.
- Synonym荒いあらいNeutralRough or violent in manner, as in 「言葉が荒い」「波が荒い」.
- Synonym甚だしいはなはだしいWrittenWritten/formal prose for excessive degree, as in 「甚だしい誤解」; mostly negative situations.
- Synonym苛烈かれつWrittenWritten/formal prose for harsh, relentless intensity, as in 「苛烈な戦い」.
- Related荒々しいあらあらしいNeutralSuggests roughness and wildness, as in 「荒々しい声」, with a rugged, untamed nuance.
- Related激甚げきじんWrittenWritten/formal prose for extreme severity, mostly with disasters, as in 「激甚災害」.
- RelatedきついCasualColloquial: tough or strenuous, tight, or forceful in attitude, as in 「きつい言い方」.
- Related厳しいきびしいNeutralFocuses on strictness or harshness that is hard to bear, as in 「厳しい寒さ」「厳しい先生」.
- Related凶暴きょうぼうNeutralFerocious and brutal, as in 「凶暴な犯人」; carries a violent, savage nuance.
- RelatedすごいCasualColloquial and very broad: amazing, terrific, or frightening, as in 「すごい雨」.
- RelatedどぎついNeutralGaudy or offensively intense, as in 「どぎつい色」; carries an unpleasant, over-the-top nuance.
- Related凄烈せいれつWrittenRare written/formal word for fierce, ghastly intensity; in everyday speech say 「激しい」.
- Related凄絶せいぜつWrittenWritten/formal prose for utterly gruesome, bloody ferocity, as in 「凄絶な戦い」.
- Related獰猛どうもうNeutralBeastly ferocity, as in 「獰猛な犬」; mostly used of animals.
- Related凶猛きょうもうWrittenRare written/formal word for ferocity; in everyday use say 「獰猛」.
- RelatedこっぴどいCasualColloquial; most often as 「こっぴどく叱られる」, meaning severely, really hard.
- Antonym穏やかおだやかNeutralAntonym: calm and gentle, the opposite of 「激しい」.
- Antonym柔和にゅうわWrittenAntonym in written/formal prose: gentle and mild, the opposite of 「激しい」.
Use 「激しい」 for strong force or high degree. For extreme momentum pick 「猛烈」; for fierce competition or debate, 「激烈」; for something that strikes you hard, 「強烈」; for roughness, 「荒い」; for strict or harsh conditions, 「厳しい」. The opposite is 「穏やか」.
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
