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残虐 (ざんぎゃく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
na-adjective, noun
cruel ; brutal ; savage
Describes acts, treatment, or people that are mercilessly violent and inhumane. Often used in news reports about war crimes, abuse, or extreme violence.
戦せん 争そう の 残ざん 虐ぎゃく さ を 伝つた える ドキュメンタリー を 見み た 。
I watched a documentary that conveys the cruelty of war.
Written forms 残ざん 虐ぎゃく Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and everyday writing.
惨ざん 虐ぎゃく Usage 1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Kanji 残 remainder, leftover, balance 惨 wretched, disaster, cruelty Similar words 残ざん 酷こく 残酷 is more common in everyday speech for 'cruel' or 'heartless' acts, while 残虐 leans toward extreme, savage brutality often in formal or news contexts.
非ひ 道どう 非道 emphasizes wickedness and injustice, whereas 残虐 focuses on the violent, savage nature of the act.
Etymology Compound of 残 (remaining, cruel) and 虐 (oppress, tyrannize). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination conventionally conveys extreme cruelty.
