atrocity; heinous crime
Refers to extremely wicked or cruel acts, often in a formal or literary context. Used as both a noun and a na-adjective.
The dictator committed numerous atrocities.
Atrocious and inhuman acts can never be forgiven.
Archaic legal term for treason, specifically one of the eight grave offenses (八虐) in the Ritsuryō code. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
See also: 八虐
Under the Ritsuryō system, treason was considered one of the eight grave offenses.
Standard kanji spelling for atrocity and the archaic treason sense.
Variant kanji spelling using 虐 (oppress/cruel); less common than 悪逆.
Compound of 悪 (evil) and 逆 (contrary, treason). The archaic treason sense derives from the Ritsuryō legal code, where it denoted one of the eight grave offenses. The modern atrocity sense likely developed from the idea of acts that go against morality.