刻薄 (kè bó) — unkind, harsh, mean (of character or speech) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Describes a person or their words as deliberately sharp and hurtful (harsh, mean). Stronger and more personal than 尖刻, which focuses on biting wit without the cruelty toward people.

adjective

unkindharshmean (of character or speech)

Examples

刻薄，。
Tā shuō huà hěn kè bó, shuí dōu shòu bù liǎo.
He speaks very harshly; nobody can stand it.
刻薄，。
Bié duì tóng shì nà me kè bó, dà jiā dōu bù gāo xìng.
Don't be so harsh to your colleagues; everyone is unhappy.
刻薄，。
Tā xiě wén zhāng shí yòng cí kè bó, cháng cháng fěng cì bié rén.
When writing articles, she uses harsh words and often satirizes others.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

'刻' and '薄' both suggest harshness or lack of kindness, giving mean speech or character.

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.

亥刂刻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刂Written in full as刀dāo

Sound part声符shēngfú

亥

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, 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.

艹溥薄

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

溥

溥pǔ薄báo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

薄 combines 艹, a grass part, with 溥 as the sound part.

Appears in

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