Translation guide
Describes a person or action lacking empathy, compassion, or kindness. Japanese expressions range from direct adjectives to nuanced phrases about coldness or cruelty.
Describing a person or action that is unkind and shows no concern for others' feelings.
A common adjective meaning cold-hearted, cruel, or ruthless. Used for people and actions.
He is a heartless person.
That was a heartless decision.
Means cold-hearted or unfeeling, often implying a lack of emotional warmth or loyalty.
To take a heartless attitude.
Literally 'without emotion', used for heartless or pitiless actions, often in a dramatic or literary context.
I received heartless treatment.
Literally 'has no heart', a direct way to say someone is heartless. Casual and emphatic.
That person is heartless.
Means heartless or unfeeling, often used in formal or literary contexts. Can imply impartiality without mercy.
To accept the heartless reality.
Describing someone who is emotionally distant, indifferent, or unresponsive to others' feelings.
Literally 'cold', but commonly used for a person who is cold-hearted or indifferent. Very natural in everyday speech.
Means indifferent, cool, or apathetic. Often used for a lack of warmth or sympathy in attitude.
Idiom meaning 'has neither blood nor tears', i.e., completely heartless and unfeeling. Emphatic and dramatic.
He is utterly heartless.
Describing actions or words that are deliberately mean or hurtful.
A very common word meaning cruel, harsh, or terrible. Used for heartless actions or treatment.
Don't say such heartless things.
That's heartless treatment.
Means cruel or brutal. Stronger than ひどい, often used for severe heartlessness.
Literally 'like a demon', used to describe someone heartless and cruel. Colloquial and emphatic.
A heartless boss (like a demon).
The English word 'heartless' is often translated directly as 心がない, but this can sound childish or overly dramatic. In most contexts, 冷たい or 冷酷 are more natural.
冷たい is a general term for coldness and can be used for everyday indifference. 冷酷 implies a deeper, more deliberate cruelty and is stronger.
To say cold (heartless) things.
冷淡な対応に失望した。
I was disappointed by the heartless response.
残酷な言葉を投げつける。
To hurl heartless words.