残虐

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 残虐 is read as ざんぎゃく and means “brutal” and “cruel”.
• Basic usage: It describes a tyrant’s brutal orders and cruel treatment of prisoners.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Key distinction: 残虐な
  • 残虐な modifies a noun and implies inhumane harm, not mere strictness.