Japanese word

残酷

Pronunciation

Romajizankoku

Meaning

  • na-adjectivecruel

Example

その扱いは残酷です。so no atsuka i wa zan koku de su

That treatment is cruel.

Illustration for 残酷 (cruel)

More examples

子どもに残酷な冗談を言うのはやめましょう。ko do mo ni zan koku na jō dan o i u no wa ya me ma shō

Let's stop telling cruel jokes to children.

Core concept

Describes treatment or circumstances marked by severe harshness and a complete lack of mercy.

Common phrases

  • 残酷な扱いzan koku na atsuka i

    cruel treatment

  • 残酷な真実zan koku na shin jitsu

    cruel truth

  • 残酷な行為zan koku na kō i

    cruel act

Similar words

無慈悲mujihi: Treats others without mercy or concern for their suffering.
冷酷reikoku: Shows a cold lack of feeling or concern for others.
残忍zannin: Causes pain or suffering with little regard for human feeling.
非情hijō: Shows no sympathy and treats people without human warmth.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事への扱いがむごく、思いやりを欠いているさま。hito ya mono goto e no atsuka i ga mu go ku omo i ya ri o ka i te i ru sa ma

Word origin

残 (zan, "remaining") and 酷 (koku, "severe") form the Sino-Japanese compound 残酷 (zankoku), whose combined sense is severe cruelty.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this adjective can describe a situation, fate, or truth as well as a person's conduct, extending beyond deliberate harm to a sense of merciless harshness.

Other meanings

  • brutalna-adjective
  • inhumanna-adjective

Opposites

  • 人道的jindōtekihumanena-adjective
  • 慈悲深いjihibukaicompassionatei-adjective

Related words

  • 残酷さzankokusacrueltynoun

Word lists with this word