Cruelty in Japanese

"cruelty" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.

冷酷

reikoku

冷cool, cold (beer, person)+酷cruel, severe

2 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "cruelty". The most common choice is shown first.

惨

Top pick

wretched, disaster, cruelty, harsh

Reading: san

11 strokes · dark

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Where it comes from

Composed of heart and three. Heart becoming miserable.

What it carries

Tragic, misery, crushing defeat. Represents misery.

Related kanji for "cruelty"

暴

cruelty

bou · powerful, dark

Composed of sun, together, and water. Sun and water violent.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Japanese kanji for cruelty?

The most common kanji for "cruelty" is 惨, read as san. It means wretched, disaster, cruelty. Related kanji: 暴 (cruelty).

How many strokes does 惨 have?

惨 has 11 strokes.