残酷(ざんこく)な

ざんこくな
adjective
cruel; brutal; merciless
1. cruel; brutal; merciless
describes actions, people, or situations that cause severe suffering or show no compassion
残酷(ざんこく)な話(はなし)だ。
That's a cruel story.
彼(かれ)の残酷(ざんこく)な仕打(しう)ちに耐(た)えた。
She endured his cruel treatment.
戦争(せんそう)は残酷(ざんこく)な現実(げんじつ)を人々(ひとびと)に突(つ)きつける。
War confronts people with a cruel reality.

Describes cruelty that is deliberate or inherent in a situation, often involving pain or suffering imposed on others. Stronger and more visceral than simply being unkind.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 残酷(ざんこく)な仕打(しう)ち: cruel treatment
  • 残酷(ざんこく)な運命(うんめい): cruel fate
  • 残酷(ざんこく)な現実(げんじつ): harsh reality
  • 残酷(ざんこく)な刑罰(けいばつ): cruel punishment

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 酷(ひど)い: mean, terrible — more general and colloquial, covers a wider range from bad weather to unfair treatment
  • 非情(ひじょう)な: heartless, cold-blooded — emphasizes lack of emotion rather than active cruelty
  • 無慈悲(むじひ)な: merciless — focuses specifically on showing no mercy or compassion

REGISTER:
Used in both written and spoken Japanese. Common in news, literature, and discussions about social issues. The noun form 残酷(ざんこく) can also be used directly.

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Added 2026.4.26 20:16
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