非 道(ひどう)

ひどう

noun, na-adjective

inhumane; heartless; cruel

1. inhumane; heartless; cruel; unconscionable

Describes actions or behavior that violate basic human decency and morality. Stronger and more formal than ひどい, implying a moral judgment.

それは非道(ひどう)な行為(こうい)だ。

That is an inhumane act.

非道(ひどう)な仕打(しう)ちに耐(た)えかねて、彼(かれ)は立(た)ち上(あ)がった。

Unable to endure the cruel treatment, he stood up.

戦争(せんそう)では非道(ひどう)な行為(こうい)が繰(く)り返(かえ)され、多(おお)くの罪(つみ)のない人々(ひとびと)が犠牲(ぎせい)になった。

During the war, inhumane acts were repeated, and many innocent people became victims.

Usage: 非道(ひどう) is a formal, literary word that carries a strong moral condemnation. It literally means "against the way" (非(ひ) = not, 道(どう) = the way/morality). It is used as both a na-adjective and a noun.

Common collocations

非道(ひどう)な行為(こうい) (inhumane act)
非道(ひどう)な仕打(しう)ち (cruel treatment)
非道(ひどう)な振(ふ)る舞(ま)い (inhumane conduct)
極悪(ごくあく)非道(ひどう) (utterly wicked and inhumane — a four-character idiom)

Similar words: Compare with ひどい (terrible, cruel), which is the everyday adjective. 非道(ひどう) is more formal and implies a deeper moral transgression. Note that despite similar readings, 非道(ひどう) and ひどい are etymologically unrelated. 無道(むどう)/無道(ぶどう) is a synonym used in classical texts.

Related Words

Compare: ひどい (terrible; cruel (everyday))

Compare: 蛮行(ばんこう) (barbaric act)

Compare: 非人道的(ひじんどうてき) (inhumane)

general

Added 2026.3.3 20:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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