Translation guide
The concept of cruelty in Japanese can be expressed through nouns describing the quality, adjectives for cruel behavior, and verbs for treating someone cruelly. The most common and versatile word is 残酷 (zankoku), but other terms carry nuances of ruthlessness, brutality, or mercilessness.
Expressing that something is cruel in a general sense, as a noun or adjective.
The most common and broad term for cruelty. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective. Covers both physical and emotional cruelty.
彼の行動は残酷だった。
His actions were cruel.
動物への残酷な扱いは許せない。
Cruel treatment of animals is unforgivable.
An i-adjective meaning 'terrible' or 'cruel'. Very common in everyday speech. Can describe actions, situations, or people.
それは酷い話だ。
That's a cruel story.
彼は私に酷いことを言った。
He said cruel things to me.
Emphasizes brutality and savagery, often implying a cold-hearted nature. More intense than 残酷.
残忍な殺人事件が起きた。
A brutal murder occurred.
Emphasizing a lack of mercy or pity, often in competitive or harsh contexts.
Literally 'without mercy'. Used for pitiless actions or attitudes. Common in both literal and figurative contexts.
無慈悲な決断を下した。
They made a merciless decision.
自然は時に無慈悲だ。
Nature is sometimes cruel.
Implies heartlessness or cold-bloodedness. Often used for people who act without emotion or compassion.
Cold-hearted cruelty. Emphasizes a lack of warmth or empathy. Often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
Expressing the action of being cruel to someone, often with verbs.
The verb 虐める (ijimeru) means 'to bully' or 'to torment'. It is the most common way to say someone is being cruel to another person, especially in bullying contexts.
彼は弟を虐めた。
He was cruel to his younger brother.
学校で虐められるのは辛い。
It's painful to be bullied at school.
A phrase meaning 'to do cruel things to someone'. Flexible and natural in conversation.
彼女は友達に酷いことをした。
She did cruel things to her friend.
Focusing on verbal or psychological cruelty.
Means 'biting' or 'caustic', used for harsh criticism or cruel remarks. Often used for words or comments.
彼の辛辣な言葉に傷ついた。
I was hurt by his cruel words.
A na-adjective meaning 'mean-spirited' or 'spiteful'. Very common for describing petty cruelty or unkindness.
残酷 (zankoku) is a more formal, objective term for cruelty, while 酷い (hidoi) is a subjective, everyday word meaning 'terrible' or 'awful'. 酷い can be used for many bad situations, not just cruelty.
English often uses 'cruelty' as a noun, but in Japanese it's more natural to use an adjective or verb phrase. For example, 'the cruelty of the act' is better expressed as 'その行為の残酷さ' (sono kōi no zankoku-sa) rather than trying to use a standalone noun.
He is known as a heartless boss.
冷酷な現実に直面した。
I faced the cruel reality.
Don't say mean things.