深 刻(しんこく)な

しんこくな

na-adjective

serious; grave; severe

evaluation

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(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

Related Words

Compare: 重大(じゅうだい)な (grave, critical)

Compare: 深(ふか)い (deep)

Compare: 厳(きび)しい (strict, severe)

Compare: 真剣(しんけん)な (serious)

general

Added 2026.4.8 1:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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