激甚・劇甚|げきじんgekijin[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
激甚激甚 is the most common written form, with a forceful sense suited to descriptions of very intense or severe conditions.
劇甚劇甚 is a rarely used written form of 激甚. You may encounter it, but learners should not choose it for ordinary use.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounintense; violent; severe; vehement
Conjugation
| Plain form | 激甚（げきじん） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 激甚です（げきじんです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 激甚ではない（げきじんではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 激甚ではありません（げきじんではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 激甚だった（げきじんだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 激甚ではなかった（げきじんではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 激甚で（げきじんで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 激甚に（げきじんに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 激甚なら（げきじんなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym強烈きょうれつNeutralDescribes strong force or stimulation, as in 「強烈な印象」; 「激甚」 is more written in register and stresses extreme severity.
- Synonym猛烈もうれつNeutralDescribes fierce momentum, as in 「猛烈な暑さ」; it applies broadly and is not limited to disasters.
- Synonym激烈げきれつNeutralDescribes fierce competition or debate, as in 「激烈な競争」; it leans toward confrontation.
- Synonym凄烈せいれつWrittenWritten word for fierce, overwhelming momentum; rare and rather literary.
- Synonym酷烈こくれつWrittenWritten word for extreme harshness, as in 「酷烈な暑さ」; rarely used.
- Synonym苛烈かれつWrittenWritten word for harsh struggles or conditions, as in 「苛烈な戦い」.
- Related激しいはげしいNeutralThe everyday word for violent or intense, most common in speech; not tied to disasters.
- Related甚だしいはなはだしいWrittenWritten word for an extreme degree, usually with a negative sense, as in 「甚だしい誤解」.
- RelatedひどいCasualColloquial word for something terrible or severe, as in 「ひどい雨」; carries the speaker's displeasure.
- Related凄まじいすさまじいCasualColloquial word for something astonishing or fearsome, as in 「凄まじい音」; carries a sense of shock.
- Related痛烈つうれつWrittenWritten word for sharp blows or criticism, as in 「痛烈な皮肉」.
- Related峻烈しゅんれつWrittenWritten word for harsh criticism or attitudes, as in 「峻烈な批判」.
- Related激越げきえつWrittenWritten word for impassioned emotion or tone, as in 「激越な口調」.
- Related凄絶せいぜつWrittenWritten word for fierceness at its most gruesome, as in 「凄絶な戦い」.
- Antonym軽微けいびWrittenAntonym: written word for slight damage, the opposite of the severe losses 「激甚」 describes.
- Antonym微少びしょうWrittenAntonym: written word for very small quantity; it concerns amount, not degree, so use 「軽微」 for disaster severity.
For everyday speech use 「激しい」 or 「猛烈」. 「激甚」 is a written word for extremely severe disasters, damage, or situations, as in 「激甚災害」 or 「被害が激甚」. When damage is slight, say 「軽微」.
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
