非道(ひどう)

ひどう
noun, adjective (na)
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.

general
Added 2026.3.3 20:30
14500/14778_hidou