冷酷(れいこく)

れいこく
na-adjective
cruel; cold-hearted; merciless
1. cruel; cold-hearted; merciless; ruthless
Lacking compassion or sympathy; treating others harshly without regard for their feelings. Composed of 冷 (cold) + 酷 (harsh, severe).
冷酷(れいこく)な人(ひと)だ。
That's a cold-hearted person.
彼(かれ)は部下(ぶか)に対(たい)して冷酷(れいこく)な態度(たいど)をとった。
He took a cruel attitude toward his subordinates.
現実(げんじつ)は時(とき)に冷酷(れいこく)で、努力(どりょく)が報(むく)われないこともある。
Reality is sometimes merciless, and effort doesn't always pay off.

USAGE:
冷酷(れいこく) is a na-adjective used to describe people, actions, or situations that are devoid of compassion. It can also describe abstract things like reality or fate.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 冷酷(れいこく)な人間(にんげん) (a cruel person)
  • 冷酷(れいこく)な仕打(しう)ち (cruel treatment)
  • 冷酷(れいこく)な現実(げんじつ) (harsh reality)
  • 冷酷(れいこく)非情(ひじょう) (cold and heartless)

SIMILAR WORDS:
残酷(ざんこく) means cruel or brutal and emphasizes inflicting suffering. 非情(ひじょう) means heartless or unfeeling and focuses on lack of emotion. 冷酷(れいこく) emphasizes being cold and harsh simultaneously.

general
Added 2026.3.5 15:54
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