pre-noun adjectival
merciless; unforgiving; ruthless; relentless
Rare pre-noun adjectival (rentaishi) used in literary or formal contexts to describe a person, action, or attitude that shows no mercy or leniency. Often seen in fixed expressions like 仮借なき批判 (unsparing criticism).
彼は仮借なき批判を浴びせた。
He leveled merciless criticism.
その裁判官は仮借なき判決を下した。
The judge handed down an unforgiving verdict.
From 仮借 (かしゃく, 'pardon, leniency') + なき (classical Japanese attributive form of なし, 'not exist'). The compound literally means 'without pardon' and is used as a fixed rentaishi in formal or literary Japanese.