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残忍 (ざんにん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

残ざん忍にん

ざ

ん

に

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless

Describes actions, people, or methods that are harsh, pitiless, and lacking compassion. Often used for violent acts or severe treatment.

彼かれの残ざん忍にんな行こう為いは許ゆるせない。
His brutal act is unforgivable.

その事じ件けんはあまりにも残ざん忍にんだった。

The incident was too cruel.

Written forms

残ざん忍にんUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
惨ざん忍にんUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

残remainder, leftover, balance
忍endure, bear, put up with
惨wretched, disaster, cruelty

Similar words

残ざん酷こく
残酷 is more common and broadly means 'cruel' or 'heartless', while 残忍 emphasizes a cold, merciless brutality, often with a nuance of calculated violence.
非ひ情じょう
非情 means 'heartless' or 'unfeeling', focusing on lack of emotion; 残忍 implies active cruelty and brutality.

Etymology

Compound of 残 (cruel, harsh) and 忍 (endure, stealthy), suggesting a harshness that disregards suffering. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.