深刻(しんこく)な

しんこくな
adjective-na
serious; grave; severe
1. serious; grave; severe
Describes a situation, problem, or condition that is critical and demands urgent attention.
深刻(しんこく)な問題(もんだい)だ。
It's a serious problem.
水不足(みずぶそく)は深刻(しんこく)な状況(じょうきょう)になっている。
The water shortage has become a severe situation.
人手(ひとで)不足(ぶそく)が深刻(しんこく)で、企業(きぎょう)は対策(たいさく)を急(いそ)いでいる。
The labor shortage is so severe that companies are rushing to find solutions.
2. solemn; grave (in expression or manner)
Describes a person's facial expression or demeanor as deeply serious or troubled.
深刻(しんこく)な顔(かお)をしている。
He has a grave expression on his face.
そんなに深刻(しんこく)にならなくていいよ。
You don't need to take it so seriously.
彼(かれ)は深刻(しんこく)な表情(ひょうじょう)で結果(けっか)を報告(ほうこく)した。
He reported the results with a grave expression.

Composed of 深(しん) (deep) + 刻(こく) (engrave/carve), suggesting something deeply etched and hard to ignore. Used extensively in news and formal contexts to describe situations that have worsened to a critical point.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 深刻(しんこく)な問題(もんだい): serious problem
  • 深刻(しんこく)な影響(えいきょう): serious impact
  • 深刻(しんこく)な被害(ひがい): severe damage
  • 深刻(しんこく)な状況(じょうきょう): grave situation
  • 深刻(しんこく)に受(う)け止(と)める: to take seriously

USAGE:
Often used adverbially as 深刻(しんこく)に. The phrase 深刻(しんこく)に考(かんが)えすぎる (to overthink things too seriously) is common advice given to someone who worries too much.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 重大(じゅうだい)な: grave, critical — emphasizes importance and weight; often used for formal announcements
  • 深い(ふかい): deep — describes depth but lacks the urgency of 深刻(しんこく)
  • 厳(きび)しい: strict, severe — describes harshness of conditions rather than the gravity of a problem
general
Added 2026.4.8 1:36
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