Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Heartless" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "heartless", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
非情
ひじょう (hijō)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
血も涙もない
ちもなみだもない (chimonamidamonai)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "heartless" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 非情 and 血も涙もない.
In Japanese, 非情 (ひじょう (hijō)) is typically associated with "heartless; unfeeling; ruthless; merciless; cold-blooded" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to being heartless, unfeeling, ruthless, merciless, or cold-blooded, ignoring human emotions and feelings for the sake of rules or profit. Often used as 非情な.
On the other hand, 血も涙もない (ちもなみだもない (chimonamidamonai)) maps to "heartless, cruel" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "heartless" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "非情"
ビジネスの世界は極めて_______であり、業績が上がらなければ即座に解雇されることも珍しくありません。
The world of business is extremely heartless, and it is not rare to be dismissed immediately if performance does not rise.
Bilingual Context for "血も涙もない"
これはとても血も涙もないですね。
This is very heartless, cruel, isn't it?
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ビジネスの世界は極めて_______であり、業績が上がらなければ即座に解雇されることも珍しくありません。" (Meaning: "The world of business is extremely heartless, and it is not rare to be dismissed immediately if performance does not rise.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "非情" fits here because it means "heartless; unfeeling; ruthless; merciless; cold-blooded" in the context of: "The world of business is extremely heartless, and it is not rare to be dismissed immediately if performance does not rise.". "血も涙もない" represents "heartless, cruel".