Definition
酷 (kù) has two distinct meanings: the modern loanword 'cool, stylish' (broader than 帅, which focuses on appearance) and the classical meaning 'ruthless, cruel' as in 酷刑 (cruel torture). For the 'cruel' sense, it is literary and appears in fixed terms, unlike the everyday word 残忍 (cánrěn).
adjective
(loanword) coolstylishhipstrongintense (of wine, flavor, or weather)ruthlesscruel
Easily confused
- 靠kàolook-aliketo lean against; to come near to
- 哭kūsound-aliketo cry, to weep
- 造zàolook-aliketo build; to construct; to manufacture
- 库kùsound-alikewarehouse, storehouse
- 苦kǔsound-alikebitter (taste)
Examples
- 酷。Tā chuān zhè jiàn jiákè hěn kù.He looks very cool in this jacket.
- 酷。Zhè píng chénnián báijiǔ wèidào kù liè.This aged baijiu has a strong and intense flavor.
- ，。Gǔdài yǒu kù xíng, fēicháng cánrěn.In ancient times there were cruel punishments, extremely brutal.
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