冷酷 (lěng kù) — cold-hearted, callous, unfeeling

Definition

冷酷 describes a person's cold, unfeeling character — harsher than 冷漠 (indifferent) and 无情 (merciless in action). Use it for someone who lacks warmth in how they treat others.

adjective
cold-heartedcallousunfeeling

Examples

  • 冷酷。
    Tā kàn qǐ lái hěn lěng kù.
    He looks very cold-hearted.
  • 冷酷。
    Bié duì tā nà me lěng kù.
    Don't be so callous toward him.
  • 冷酷。
    lěng kù De yǎn shén ràng rén bù shū fu.
    A cold-hearted gaze makes people uncomfortable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

冷lěngcold
酷kùcruel

冷 and 酷 both suggest coldness and harshness, together meaning unfeeling.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
冫Written in full as仌bīngice
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng冷lěng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

Open 冷 →

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
酉酉yǒualcoholic drink vessel
Sound part声符shēngfú
告
告gào酷kù
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.

Open 酷 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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