Meaning and Usage
"深刻" (しんこく) means "serious" or "severe" and is often used to describe situations, problems, or conditions that require careful attention or are grave in nature. It conveys a sense of importance and urgency.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "深刻" used in contexts like health (illness), social issues, or emotional states. For example, "深刻な問題" means a serious problem, and "深刻な顔" refers to a serious or grave facial expression.
Collocations and Patterns
- 深刻な問題 (しんこくなもんだい): serious problem — used when discussing important or difficult issues.
- 深刻な病気 (しんこくなびょうき): serious illness — used in medical contexts.
- 深刻な影響 (しんこくなえいきょう): serious impact — used when describing significant effects.
Register and Nuance
"深刻" is a formal word often used in written and spoken Japanese when discussing serious matters. It is more formal than casual words like "大変" (たいへん) for "serious".
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "深刻" with "重い" (おもい), which can also mean "heavy" or "serious". Remember that "深刻" emphasizes the gravity or severity of a situation, not physical weight or emotional heaviness alone.