Japanese word

過酷

Pronunciation

Romajikakoku

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveharsh

Example

その環境は過酷です。so no kan kyō wa ka koku de su

The conditions are harsh.

Illustration for 過酷 (harsh)

More examples

過酷な状況でも、彼は冷静に判断しました。ka koku na jō kyō de mo kare wa rei sei ni han dan shi ma shi ta

Even in harsh conditions, he made decisions calmly.

Core concept

Describes conditions that go beyond what people can reasonably endure.

Common phrases

  • 過酷な旅ka koku na tabi

    grueling journey

  • 過酷な作業ka koku na sa gyō

    grueling work

  • 過酷な気候ka koku na ki kō

    harsh climate

Similar words

苛烈karetsu: Describes circumstances that place people under exceptionally severe demands.
悲惨hisan: Describes a condition in which people suffer greatly or the outcome is terrible.

Definition in Japanese

普通の程度を大きく超えて、耐えることが難しいさま。fu tsū no tei do o ō ki ku ko e te ta e ru ko to ga muzuka shi i sa ma

Word origin

過酷 (kakoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 過 (ka, "beyond") and 酷 (koku, "severe"), giving the word its sense of extreme harshness.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 過酷 (kakoku) often presents a situation as objectively demanding, while harsh can also describe a speaker's severe tone or judgment.

Other meanings

  • severena-adjective
  • gruelingna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 過酷さkakokusaharshnessnoun

Word lists with this word