Translation guide
Describes a person or behavior that is emotionally hardened, unfeeling, or indifferent to the suffering of others. Japanese expressions range from direct adjectives to idiomatic phrases.
Describing someone who lacks empathy or is insensitive to others' pain.
Means 'cold, indifferent, callous.' Commonly used for a person's attitude or treatment of others.
彼は困っている人に冷淡だ。
He is callous toward people in trouble.
Literally 'heartless, ruthless.' Stronger than 冷淡, implying a lack of compassion.
彼女の無情な態度に驚いた。
I was shocked by her callous attitude.
Means 'cruel, cold-hearted.' Often used for deliberate cruelty or harshness.
彼の冷酷な言葉が彼女を傷つけた。
His callous words hurt her.
Idiomatic: 'without blood or tears,' meaning completely heartless and callous.
あんな血も涙もない仕打ちは許せない。
I can't forgive such a callous act.
Showing a lack of concern for others' hardships.
Means 'lacking compassion/consideration.' A common, natural way to describe callousness.
彼は思いやりがないから、友達が少ない。
He has few friends because he's callous.
Means 'apathetic, indifferent.' Focuses on lack of interest rather than active cruelty.
彼の無関心な態度が問題だ。
His callous indifference is the problem.
Literally 'doesn't feel pain.' Can metaphorically describe someone emotionally numb or callous.
彼は他人の痛みを感じないようだ。
He seems callous to others' pain.
Describing skin that is thick and hardened, like a callus.
Means 'hardened.' Used for skin that has become callous.
彼の手は硬くなっている。
His hands are callous.
Means 'has calluses.' たこ is the noun for callus.
ギターを弾くので指にたこができた。
My fingers are callous from playing guitar.
冷淡 (reitan) is cold indifference, often in social situations. 冷酷 (reikoku) implies active cruelty or harshness. 無情 (mujou) is heartlessness, often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
There is no single Japanese adjective that perfectly matches 'callous' in all contexts. Use phrases like 思いやりがない or 冷淡な態度 depending on the nuance.