シビア

しびあ

na-adjective

severe, harsh

1. severe, strict, harsh

Describes conditions, standards, judgments, or situations that are demanding, unforgiving, or difficult.

シビアな条件(じょうけん)だ。

Those are harsh conditions.

先生(せんせい)の評価(ひょうか)はかなりシビアだった。

The teacher's evaluation was quite severe.

今(いま)の経済(けいざい)状況(じょうきょう)はシビアで、就職(しゅうしょく)が難(むずか)しくなっている。

The current economic situation is tough, making it hard to find a job.

Forms

Attributive: シビアな + noun
Predicate: シビアだ / シビアです
Adverbial: シビアに

Common collocations

シビアな条件(じょうけん): harsh conditions
シビアな評価(ひょうか): severe evaluation
シビアな現実(げんじつ): harsh reality
シビアな目(め)で見(み)る: to view with a critical eye
シビアな状況(じょうきょう): tough situation

Similar words

厳(きび)しい: strict, severe (native Japanese, more common in everyday speech)
手厳(てきび)しい: harsh, scathing (specifically about criticism)
シビア tends to sound slightly more analytical or detached than 厳(きび)しい, and is often preferred in business and media contexts.

Related Words

Synonym: 厳(きび)しい (strict, severe (native))

general

Added 2026.2.12 4:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

10500/10941_shibia