凄まじい

• Reading: すさまじい
• Romaji: susamajii
• Kanji breakdown: 凄 (sei/sugo) — uncanny, terrible, intense
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.sa.ma.dʑiː/

Meaning

Terrible; dreadful; tremendous; fierce. Describing something of overwhelming intensity, either negatively or impressively.

An i-adjective expressing extreme intensity that can be negative (terrible, horrific) or simply awe-inspiring (tremendous, fierce). Conjugates as a standard i-adjective: 凄まじい → 凄まじく → 凄まじかった. Often used for natural forces, competition, effort, or destruction: 凄まじい勢い (tremendous force), 凄まじい破壊力 (terrible destructive power).

Examples

1. 台風の凄まじい風で木が倒れた。 Trees were knocked down by the typhoon's ferocious winds.
2. 凄まじいスピードで技術が進歩している。 Technology is advancing at a tremendous pace.
3. 戦争の凄まじさを語り継がなければならない。 We must pass down the story of the war's horrors to future generations.

Usage Guide

Context: news, nature, description

Tone: intense

Origin & History

From Old Japanese すさまじ, originally meaning 'chilling' or 'dreary' in classical literature (枕草子 lists すさまじきもの — disagreeable things). Over centuries the meaning shifted from 'bleak/desolate' to 'terrifyingly intense.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal