過か酷こく

か

こ

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

Describes conditions, treatment, environments, or demands that are extremely tough, merciless, or punishing. Often used for weather, work, rules, or criticism.

今年ことしの夏なつは過か酷こくな暑あつさが続つづいている。

This summer, severe heat has been continuing.

彼かれは過か酷こくな労ろう働どう条じょう件けんに耐たえられなかった。

He couldn't endure the harsh working conditions.

過か酷こくな訓くん練れんを乗のり越こえて、選せん手しゅは強つよくなった。

After overcoming rigorous training, the athlete became stronger.

Usage patterns

過か酷こくな〈場ば所しょ〉a harsh place/environment
彼かれらは過か酷こくな環かん境きょうで生いき延のびた。
They survived in a harsh environment.
過か酷こくな〈事こと〉に耐たえるto endure something harsh
彼かれは過か酷こくな運うん命めいに耐たえてきた。
He has endured a harsh fate.
過か酷こくな労ろう働どうgrueling/harsh labor
工こう場じょうでは過か酷こくな労ろう働どうが続つづいた。
Harsh labor continued at the factory.

Kanji

過overdo, exceed, go beyond
酷cruel, severe, atrocious
苛torment, scold, chastise

Related words

厳きびしいN4
厳しい is a broader, everyday word for 'strict' or 'tough', while 過酷 emphasizes extremity and a lack of mercy or relief.
残ざん酷こくN1
残酷 focuses on cruelty and brutality with a moral judgment, whereas 過酷 can describe harshness without necessarily implying moral wrong.
苛か烈れつ
苛烈 stresses fierce intensity (as in fighting or competition), while 過酷 stresses unrelenting severity of conditions or demands.
シビアN1
過酷 emphasizes brutal or extreme severity, especially of conditions or treatment, whereas シビア more often describes strict, unforgiving standards or judgments.
酷こく
過酷 typically describes severe conditions such as harsh weather or brutal working environments, while 酷 more broadly covers any demand, judgment, or treatment felt to be unfair or cruel.

Opposites

穏おだやかN3
穏やか describes mild, calm conditions, the direct opposite of the punishing harshness described by 過酷.

Don't confuse with

過か激げき
過激 describes extreme, radical actions or opinions, while 過酷 describes harsh, punishing conditions or treatment; both share 過 but differ in what they modify.

Word family

過か酷こく事じ故こ
severe accident; serious accident

Written forms

過か酷こくUsage61%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common form in modern usage.
苛か酷こくUsage38%
Alternate kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
カコクUsage<1%

Etymology

Compound of 過 (excessive) and 酷 (cruel, severe). The combination naturally yields the meaning of extreme severity or harshness.