過酷

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 過酷 is read as かこく and is a noun and na-adjective for conditions, environments, or labor that are extremely harsh and difficult to endure.
• Basic usage: Use 過酷な環境 before a noun and 作業の過酷さ when naming the severity itself.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Form changes
  • Use 過酷な attributively and 過酷さ to turn the quality into a noun.
• Stronger than ordinary difficulty
  • 過酷 indicates severe strain or hardship, not merely something mildly inconvenient or challenging.