猛烈

• Reading: もうれつ
• Romaji: mouretsu
• Kanji breakdown: 猛 (mou) — fierce, ferocious; 烈 (retsu) — violent, intense, vehement
• Pronunciation: /moː.ɾe.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Fierce; intense; violent. Describes extreme force, severity, or passion.

A na-adjective describing overwhelming intensity. Used for natural forces (猛烈な台風, ferocious typhoon; 猛烈な風, violent wind), emotions (猛烈に反対する, fiercely oppose), and work ethic (猛烈に働く, work furiously). Carries a sense of raw, almost uncontrollable power.

Examples

1. 猛烈な台風が接近しているため、外出を控えてください。 A ferocious typhoon is approaching, so please refrain from going out.
2. 締め切り前に猛烈な勢いで仕事を片付けた。 I tore through my work at a furious pace before the deadline.
3. 彼女は猛烈に反対したが、計画は変わらなかった。 She fiercely opposed it, but the plan didn't change.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, news, business

Tone: intense

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 猛 (mou, fierce) + 烈 (retsu, violent/intense). Both kanji convey extreme force — together they describe something overwhelmingly powerful and relentless.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal