酷暑(こくしょ)

こくしょ
noun
extreme heat; severe heat; scorching weather
weathertime-season
1. extreme heat; severe heat; scorching summer weather
extremely hot weather conditions, more severe than ordinary summer heat; often used when temperatures significantly exceed normal levels
今年(ことし)は例年(れいねん)にない酷暑(こくしょ)だ。
This year is experiencing unprecedented extreme heat.
酷暑(こくしょ)で農作物(のうさくもつ)に被害(ひがい)が出(で)た。
The extreme heat has damaged crops.
酷暑(こくしょ)の中(なか)、エアコンなしでは過(す)ごせない。
In this extreme heat, I can't survive without air conditioning.

Forms

酷(こく) (severe, cruel) + 暑(しょ) (heat) → severe heat

Similar words

  • 猛暑(もうしょ): the everyday word in news and conversation for a very hot summer
  • 酷暑(こくしょ): more formal and written; stresses how harsh and hard to bear the heat is
  • 炎暑(えんしょ): literary, mostly in letters and set phrases
  • 暑(あつ)さ: heat in general, at any level

Related words

Common collocations

Related Words

Synonym: 猛暑(もうしょ) (intense heat (milder))
Related: 猛暑日(もうしょび) (day over 35°C)
Related: 熱中症(ねっちゅうしょう) (heatstroke)
Related: 厳冬(げんとう) (severe winter)
Related: 残暑(ざんしょ) (lingering summer heat)
Related: 真夏日(まなつび) (hot summer day (over 30°C))
Compare: 熱波(ねっぱ) (heat wave)
Compare: 炎暑(えんしょ) (scorching heat)
Compare: 暑(あつ)さ (heat in general, at any level)
general
Added 2026.1.26 8:17 · Revised 2026.9.25 9:21
08000/08324_kokusho