冷酷 (lěng kù) — cold-hearted, callous, unfeeling | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

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liánhéCoordinate

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

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.

冫令冷

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.

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

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Personality & Traits

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