1.
bleak; harsh; hostile; desolate
Describes an atmosphere, environment, or relationship that feels cold, hostile, or devoid of warmth and humanity.
殺伐とした雰囲気だ。
The atmosphere is hostile.
職場の空気が殺伐としていて居づらい。
The workplace atmosphere is so hostile that it's hard to be there.
ネット上の議論は殺伐としがちで、建設的な意見が埋もれてしまう。
Online discussions tend to become hostile, and constructive opinions get buried.
Describes a cold, tense, or hostile atmosphere where human warmth is lacking. Almost always used in the form 殺伐とした or 殺伐としている. Composed of 殺 (kill) + 伐 (attack, strike) — the characters evoke violence, giving the word a strong negative connotation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 殺伐とした雰囲気: a hostile atmosphere
- 殺伐とした空気: a tense mood
- 殺伐とした光景: a bleak scene
- 殺伐とした世の中: a harsh world
USAGE:
Almost always appears as 殺伐とした + noun, functioning as a taru-adjective. Rarely used in predicative position without と.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 荒んだ: rough, desolate — describes degraded environments or characters
- 険悪: hostile, threatening — focuses more on interpersonal tension
- 物騒: dangerous, unsafe — focuses on danger and disorder
- 殺風景: dreary, bare — focuses on visual bleakness without the hostility