野蛮な
yabanna
The English word "savage" is translated into Japanese as 野蛮な (yabanna).
野蛮な is used to describe things that are barbaric or not civilized.
Meaning: barbaric, not civilized (adj)
Which one should you use?
The term 残忍な refers to cruelty or brutality and can be used to describe someone as savage. Additionally, the slang term ヤバい is used to describe something as savage, dangerous or intense.
How do you pronounce it?
yabanna
Did you know?
- The kanji 野 in 野蛮な means 'field' or 'wild', reflecting an ancient view that those living outside the cultivated city centers were uncivilized.
- In Japanese, the word 野蛮 is a loanword from Classical Chinese, illustrating how early Japanese concepts of 'barbarism' were shaped by the influence of the Chinese empire.
- Using 野蛮な to describe a person's manners is much more insulting than in English, as it implies they have no concept of human society at all.
Examples in context
- あの人は野蛮な振る舞いをするよね。That person behaves savagely, don't they?
- まさに野蛮そのものだと思うよ。I think they are the epitome of savagery.
- あの映画はとても残忍だったよ。That movie was very savage.
- 本当に。特にラストのシーンは背筋が凍るほど残忍だったね。Indeed. Especially the final scene, it was chillingly savage.
- この動画、見てみた？めちゃくちゃヤバいんだけど。Have you seen this video? It's super savage, you know.
- 野蛮な行為はやめなさい。Yabanna koui wa yamenasai.Stop your barbaric behavior.
- 昔の野蛮な習慣を知っていますか？Mukashi no yabanna shuukan o shitte imasu ka?Do you know about old barbaric customs?
- それはとても野蛮な考え方だ。Sore wa totemo yabanna kangaekata da.That is a very barbaric way of thinking.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are discussing a scene in a history movie.
- 陽太 Yotaあの戦い方はとても野蛮な感じだね。Ano tatakaikata wa totemo yaban na kanji da ne.That fighting style feels very savage, doesn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね。残酷すぎると思うよ。Hontō da ne. Zankoku sugiru to omou yo.It really is. I think it's too cruel.
- 陽太 Yota文明化される前の時代だったからね。Bunmeika sareru mae no jidai datta kara ne.That's because it was before the era of civilization.
- 陽葵 Himariでも、現代でそんなことをしたら野蛮だよ。Demo, gendai de sonna koto o shitara yaban da yo.But it would be savage to do such a thing today.
