酷刑 (kù xíng) — torture (cruel punishment) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

torture (cruel punishment)

Measure word · 种

Examples

，酷刑。
Zài gǔ dài, xǔ duō guó jiā dōu shǐ yòng kù xíng lái chéng fá fàn rén.
In ancient times, many countries used torture to punish criminals.
酷刑，。
Zhè zhǒng kù xíng jí qí cán rěn, lìng rén fà zhǐ.
This kind of torture is extremely cruel and shocking.
酷刑。
Guó jì fǎ jìn zhǐ zài rèn hé qíng kuàng xià shǐ yòng kù xíng.
International law prohibits the use of torture under any circumstances.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

刑xíngpunishment

酷 (cruel) and 刑 (punishment) combine to mean harsh torture.

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.

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

井jǐng刑xíng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刑 puts 刀 (knife) beside 井. The knife part shows the punishment idea, and 井 gives the sound.

Appears in

Crime & Police Law & Justice

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