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穷凶极恶 (qióng xiōng jí ě) — extremely vicious; brutal and evil

Definition

A formal four-character idiom meaning 'extremely brutal and evil' — stronger than everyday words like 残忍 or 邪恶, and used in writing about criminals, tyrants, or villains.

idiom
extremely viciousbrutal and evil

Examples

  • 穷凶极恶。
    Zhè ge qióng xiōng jí ě de zuì fàn zhōng yú bèi zhuā zhù le.
    This extremely vicious criminal was finally caught.
  • 穷凶极恶，。
    Xiǎo shuō lǐ de fǎn pài qióng xiōng jí ě, wú è bú zuò.
    The villain in the novel is brutal and evil, committing every crime.
  • 穷凶极恶。
    Lì shǐ shàng qióng xiōng jí ě de bào jūn zuì zhōng dōu bèi rén mín tuī fān le.
    The brutal and evil tyrants in history were all eventually overthrown by the people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

穷凶extreme ferocity
穷qióngextreme凶xiōngvicious
偏正Modifier + head
极恶extreme evil
极jíextreme恶èevil
偏正Modifier + head

穷 and 极 both mean extreme, while 凶 and 恶 mean vicious and evil, describing utter brutality.

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 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

凶 originally drew a hole with a lump of rock, mud, stone, or bamboo in it.

Open 凶 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

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 惡; 恶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
亞
亞yā惡è
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 惡 pairs 心 (heart) as the meaning part with 亞 (yā) as the sound part; the simplified 恶 is a later shorthand.

Open 恶 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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