严酷 (yán kù) — harsh, severe, grim | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

严酷 describes conditions, reality, or punishment that is harsh and unrelenting — stronger and more literary than 残酷 (cruel, often about people or acts). Common with 现实, 惩罚, 环境.

adjective

harshseveregrim

Examples

严酷，。
Zhè ge dōng tiān yì cháng yán kù, qì wēn jiàng dào le líng xià sān shí dù.
This winter was exceptionally harsh, with temperatures dropping to minus thirty degrees.
严酷。
yán kù De xiàn shí ràng tā bù dé bú chóng xīn kǎo lǜ zì jǐ de jì huà.
The grim reality forced him to reconsider his plans.
严酷。
Fǎ lǜ duì tān wū fǔ bài xíng wéi yǒu yán kù de chéng fá.
The law imposes severe punishment on corruption.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

Both 严 and 酷 carry severe, harsh senses, so together they mean harsh or cruel.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 嚴; 严 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

喦喦yántalkative

Sound part声符shēngfú

敢

敢gǎn嚴yán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 嚴 combines 喦 (talkative) and 敢 (daring); the simplified 严 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

酉告酷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

酉酉yǒualcoholic drink vessel

Sound part声符shēngfú

告

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酷 pairs 酉, an alcoholic drink vessel, with 告, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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