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惨
惨
11 strokes
Frequency: 1463
JLPT N1
Grade 8

Meanings

wretched
disaster
cruelty
harsh

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
サン
ザン
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
みじ.め
いた.む
むご.い

Common Words

残酷
ざんこく
惨酷
残刻
惨初
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #4020
1

cruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless; inhuman

Examples
怪物は残酷な微笑みを浮かべた。
The monster's smile was cruel.
惨め
みじめ
～な Adj.
Freq #6773
1

miserable; wretched; unhappy; sad; pitiable

Examples
彼は若い頃惨めな生活を送った。
He lived a wretched life when young.
悲惨
ひさん
悲酸
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #6966
1

disastrous; tragic; miserable; wretched; pitiful; woeful; outrageous

Examples
戦争には悲惨と悲しみが伴う。
Misery and sorrow accompany war.
無残
無惨
無慚
無慙
むざん
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #9270
1

cruel; merciless; atrocious; ruthless; cold-blooded

Examples
コメディアンは無惨な死や大事故といった悲劇的状況を冗談のネタにしている。
Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents.
2

pitiful; tragic; horrible; miserable

3

無慚／無慙 only; Buddhism

breaking a precept without shame

惨状
さんじょう
Noun
Freq #10309
1

disastrous scene; terrible spectacle

凄惨
せいさん
悽惨
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #12654
1

ghastly; gruesome; appalling; lurid

惨劇
さんげき
Noun
Freq #13932
1

tragedy; tragic event

残虐
ざんぎゃく
惨虐
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #14569
1

cruel; brutal; savage; barbarous

Examples
警官たちはその残虐な殺人事件の手掛かりを捜している。
The cops are searching for clues to the cruel murder.
残忍
ざんにん
惨忍
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #16025
1

brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded

Examples
かつて残忍な王様がいた。
Once upon a time, there lived a cruel king.
大惨事
だいさんじ
Noun
Freq #17913
1

great disaster; catastrophe; train wreck

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