(れいこく)

れいこく
na-adjective
cruel; cold-hearted; merciless
emotion
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)(ひと)だ。
That's a cold-hearted person.
He took a cruel attitude toward his subordinates.
現実(げんじつ)(とき)冷酷(れいこく)で、努力(どりょく)(むく)われないことある
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

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.