残酷 (cán kù) — cruel | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

残酷 describes cruel conditions or facts (reality, war, fate) rather than a cruel person — for a cruel person, use 残忍 or 凶残. Stronger and more literary than 惨, which leans toward 'tragic/miserable'.

adjective

cruel

Examples

残酷。
Jìng zhēng de xiàn shí hěn cán kù.
The reality of competition is cruel.
残酷。
Zhè ge dōng tiān tài cán kù le.
This winter is too cruel.
残酷。
Zhàn zhēng de cán kù jiào xùn ràng rén nán wàng.
The cruel lesson of war is unforgettable.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

酷kùsevere

残 and 酷 both convey cruelty and severity, giving the sense of 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 殘; 残 is its simplified writing.

歹戔殘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

歹歹dǎivicious, bones

Sound part声符shēngfú

戔

戔jiān殘cán

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

The traditional form 殘 pairs 歹, a bone shape for injury, with 戔 for its sound; the simplified 残 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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