Translation guide
The English word "intense" covers a wide range of meanings, from strong emotions and extreme physical sensations to high concentration and vivid colors. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being described.
Describing emotions like love, hatred, excitement, or fear that are very powerful.
A versatile adjective meaning violent, intense, or fierce. Commonly used for emotions like anger, love, or competition.
彼は激しい怒りを感じた。
He felt intense anger.
二人の間には激しい愛情があった。
There was intense affection between the two.
A na-adjective meaning very strong or intense, often used for impressions, feelings, or personalities.
彼女は強烈な印象を残した。
She left an intense impression.
Means passionate or fervent, often used for love, support, or enthusiasm.
彼は熱烈な恋に落ちた。
He fell into an intense love.
Describing physical pain, heat, cold, or other bodily experiences that are very strong.
Also used for physical intensity like pain, exercise, or weather.
激しい痛みが走った。
An intense pain shot through me.
今日は暑さが激しい。
The heat is intense today.
Can be used for physical sensations like smell, taste, or light.
強烈な日差しで目がくらんだ。
I was dazzled by the intense sunlight.
Means fierce or violent, often used for natural forces or strong physical experiences.
猛烈な暑さで倒れそうだ。
I feel like collapsing from the intense heat.
Describing focus, effort, work, or competition that is very concentrated and demanding.
Means concentrated or intensive, used for work, study, or effort.
集中的なトレーニングを行った。
We did intense training.
Can describe intense competition or activity.
激しい競争が繰り広げられた。
Intense competition unfolded.
Loanword from English 'hard', used for intense schedules, work, or training.
今日の練習はハードだった。
Today's practice was intense.
Describing colors, light, or visual effects that are very bright and striking.
Means vivid, bright, or brilliant, often used for colors.
鮮やかな赤いドレスを着ていた。
She wore an intense red dress.
Can be used for very strong, almost harsh colors or light.
強烈な色彩の絵だった。
It was a painting with intense colors.
Describing abstract things like interest, desire, or meaning that are very strong and deep.
Simple and common word for strong, used for interest, desire, etc.
彼は歴史に強い関心を持っている。
He has an intense interest in history.
Means deep, used for profound emotions or meaning.
激しい (hageshii) is the most general and can be used for emotions, physical sensations, and activity. 強烈 (kyōretsu) emphasizes a strong impact or impression, often on the senses. 猛烈 (mōretsu) implies fierceness or violence, often for natural forces or extreme conditions.
Do not always translate 'intense' as 激しい. For example, 'intense concentration' is better as 集中的な (shūchūteki na) or 深い集中 (fukai shūchū). 'Intense color' is 鮮やかな (azayaka na), not 激しい色.
Those words have an intense meaning.