残酷 (cán kù) — cruel
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.
Appears in
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