残酷

• Reading: ざんこく
• Romaji: zankoku
• Kanji breakdown: 残 (zan/noko) — remaining, cruel; 酷 (koku) — harsh, severe, cruel
• Pronunciation: /zaɴ.ko.kɯ/

Meaning

Cruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless. Describes extreme heartlessness or inhumane treatment.

A na-adjective and noun conveying severe cruelty or mercilessness. Used for actions, people, fates, or realities that are harsh beyond normal bounds. Stronger than 厳しい (strict) and implies a moral judgement. Common in literary, historical, and dramatic contexts, as well as everyday expressions like 残酷な現実 (cruel reality).

Examples

1. 戦争の残酷さを次の世代に伝えなければならない。 We must pass on the cruelty of war to the next generation.
2. あの映画は残酷なシーンが多くて最後まで見られなかった。 That movie had so many brutal scenes that I couldn't watch it to the end.
3. 自然界は時に残酷なほど厳しい生存競争がある。 Nature sometimes has a ruthlessly harsh struggle for survival.

Usage Guide

Context: history, media, moral discussion

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Chinese 殘酷. 残 means 'remaining' or 'cruel,' and 酷 means 'harsh, severe.' Together they form a strong term for extreme cruelty.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal