言語道断・言語同断|ごんごどうだんgongodoudan[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
言語道断言語道断 is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners; its spelling uses kanji throughout.
言語同断言語同断 is a less common kanji-only variant of 言語道断. You may encounter it in writing, but choose 言語道断 when writing the expression yourself.
Definitions
- na-adjective, no-adjectiveoutrageous; preposterous; scandalous; inexcusable; absurd; execrable
Conjugation
| Plain form | 言語道断（ごんごどうだん） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 言語道断です（ごんごどうだんです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 言語道断ではない（ごんごどうだんではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 言語道断ではありません（ごんごどうだんではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 言語道断だった（ごんごどうだんだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 言語道断ではなかった（ごんごどうだんではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 言語道断で（ごんごどうだんで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 言語道断に（ごんごどうだんに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 言語道断なら（ごんごどうだんなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- RelatedひどいNeutralCovers what is excessive or cruel and is the everyday choice in speech, as in 「ひどい話」. 「言語道断」 is much stronger, for absurdity too outrageous for words.
- RelatedむごいNeutralHones in on cruelty — brutal, pitiless, too horrible to watch. 「言語道断」 instead condemns behavior as outrageous and beyond excuse.
For something merely excessive, say 「ひどい」. Use 「言語道断」 for conduct that is outrageous or unacceptably absurd, as in 「言語道断の振る舞い」; 「もってのほか」 is a close synonym.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
