酷暑(こくしょ)

こくしょ
noun
extreme heat; severe heat; scorching weather
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.

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

INTENSITY SCALE (from less to more severe):

  • 暑(あつ)さ (heat - general)
  • 猛暑(もうしょ) (intense heat - 35°C+)
  • 酷暑(こくしょ) (extreme/severe heat)
  • 炎暑(えんしょ) (scorching heat - literary)

USAGE:
酷暑(こくしょ) is slightly more formal and emphatic than 猛暑(もうしょ). It emphasizes the cruel, unbearable nature of the heat.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 猛暑(もうしょ) (intense heat)
  • 猛暑日(もうしょび) (day over 35°C)
  • 熱中症(ねっちゅうしょう) (heatstroke)
  • 厳冬(げんとう) (severe winter - opposite season)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 酷暑(こくしょ)の夏(なつ) (summer of extreme heat)
  • 酷暑(こくしょ)が続(つづ)く (extreme heat continues)
  • 酷暑(こくしょ)を乗(の)り切(き)る (to get through the extreme heat)
general
Added 2026.1.26 8:17
08000/08324_kokusho