Japanese word

凶悪

Pronunciation

Romajikyōaku

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveheinous

Example

その犯罪は凶悪です。so no han zai wa kyō aku de su

That crime is heinous.

Illustration for 凶悪 (heinous)

More examples

報道では、容疑者の行動が凶悪だったと伝えられています。hō dō de wa yō gi sha no kō dō ga kyō aku da tta to tsuta e ra re te i ma su

The reports say that the suspect's actions were brutal.

Core concept

Describes a person, act, or crime whose badness is extreme and often cruel.

Common phrases

  • 凶悪な犯罪kyō aku na han zai

    brutal crime

  • 凶悪な行為kyō aku na kō i

    heinous act

Similar words

極悪gokuaku: Describes someone or something that is exceptionally evil, with a deeply immoral nature.
悪質akushitsu: Describes behavior or a crime that is deliberately harmful or dishonest.
残忍zannin: Describes behavior that is cruel and shows little concern for the suffering of others.

Definition in Japanese

性質や行為が極めて悪く、残忍であるさま。sei shitsu ya kō i ga kiwa me te waru ku zan nin de a ru sa ma

Word origin

凶悪 (kyōaku) combines 凶 (kyō, "ominous") and 悪 (aku, "bad"), giving the word its sense of extreme wickedness.

Usage tips

  • In English, heinous usually describes crimes or acts and signals stronger moral condemnation than simply bad or wrong.

Other meanings

  • viciousna-adjective
  • brutalna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 凶悪性kyōakuseiheinousnessnoun
  • 凶悪さkyōakusaviciousnessnoun

Word lists with this word