冷酷
reikoku
The Japanese word for heartless is 冷酷 (reikoku).
冷酷 is used to describe a person's character or an action that is perceived as being devoid of human emotion or mercy.
Meaning: without feeling (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 冷 (cold) and 酷 (cruel/severe), literally meaning 'cold-cruel'.
Which one should you use?
While 冷酷 implies a deep-seated, cruel lack of empathy, 冷たい is a more common, everyday way to describe someone being 'cold' or 'unfeeling' in a specific moment.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 冷酷 as an adjective before a noun, you must add the particle な to the end of the word, forming 冷酷な.
How do you pronounce it?
reikoku
Did you know?
- The kanji 酷 used in 冷酷 is also found in the word 酷暑 ('extreme heat'), showing that 'severity' in Japanese can apply to both freezing coldness and burning heat.
- In Japanese literature, a character described as 冷酷な is often portrayed as a 'frozen' or 'unmoving' presence rather than just a mean person.
- If you want to describe a 'heartless' act rather than a 'heartless' person, you would often switch from 冷酷 to 無情 (mujō), which means 'ruthless' or 'pitiless'.
Examples in context
- 彼女の行動は完全に無情でした。Her actions were completely heartless.
- 彼は人々を無情に扱っていた。He treated people heartlessly.
- 彼は冷酷な男だ。Kare wa reikoku na otoko da.He is a heartless man.
- そんな冷酷な判断はできない。Sonna reikoku na handan wa dekinai.I cannot make such a heartless decision.
- 冷酷な態度を取らないで。Reikoku na taido o toranaide.Don't take such a heartless attitude.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are discussing a character in a novel.
- 美咲 Misakiあの登場人物は本当に冷酷だね。Ano toujou jinbutsu wa hontou ni reikoku da ne.That character is truly heartless, isn't he?
- 蓮 Renうん、とても冷酷な人だよ。Un, totemo reikoku na hito da yo.Yeah, he is a very heartless person.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮君なら、そんな風にはならないと思う。Ren-kun nara, sonna fuu ni wa naranai to omou.I don't think you would ever become like that, Ren.
- 蓮 Renそんなことはないよ。Sonna koto wa nai yo.That is not the case.
