残酷(ざんこく)

ざんこく
na-adjective, noun
cruel, brutal, merciless
emotion
1. cruel, brutal, merciless, ruthless
Showing no compassion or mercy; causing suffering without remorse. Can describe people, actions, situations, or fates.
残酷(ざんこく)な場面(ばめん)は見(み)たくない。
I don't want to see cruel scenes.
現実(げんじつ)は時(とき)に残酷(ざんこく)だ。
Reality is sometimes cruel.
戦争(せんそう)の残酷(ざんこく)さを伝(つた)える映画(えいが)が数多(かずおお)く作(つく)られてきた。
Many films have been made that convey the cruelty of war.

Usage

Used as a na-adjective (残酷(ざんこく)な) or with the nominalizer さ (残酷(ざんこく)さ = cruelty). Can describe both intentional cruelty by people and the harsh nature of circumstances or fate.

Common collocations

  • 残酷(ざんこく)な仕打(しう)ち: cruel treatment
  • 残酷(ざんこく)な運命(うんめい): cruel fate
  • 残酷(ざんこく)な現実(げんじつ): harsh reality
  • 残酷(ざんこく)さ: cruelty

Similar words

  • 無慈悲(むじひ): merciless, heartless (emphasizes lack of compassion)
  • 酷(ひど)い: terrible, awful (everyday word, broader meaning)
  • 非情(ひじょう): cold-hearted, ruthless (emphasizes emotional detachment)

Related Words

Synonym: 過酷(かこく) (harsh, severe conditions)
Synonym: 無惨(むざん) (cruel, tragic (scene))
Synonym: 無慈悲(むじひ) (merciless; ruthless)
Compare: 非情(ひじょう) (cold-hearted, ruthless)
Compare: 残虐(ざんぎゃく) (cruel)
Compare: 非人道的(ひじんどうてき) (inhumane)
Compare: 凶悪(きょうあく) (atrocious)
general
Added 2026.2.24 15:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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