苛刻 (kē kè) — harsh, severe, demanding (about conditions, rules, or requirements)

Definition

苛刻 describes harsh, unreasonable conditions, rules, or standards imposed on people. It differs from 严厉 (strict toward behavior/wrongdoing) and 严峻 (grim, serious situations) — 苛刻 focuses on demands being excessive or unfair.

adjective
harshseveredemanding (about conditions, rules, or requirements)

Examples

  • 苛刻
    Gōng sī zhì dìng de chéng fá zhì dù guò yú kē kè, yuán gōng pǔ biàn bù mǎn.
    The company's punishment system is too harsh, and employees are generally dissatisfied.
  • 苛刻
    Zhè wèi kè hù duì zhì liàng jiǎn yàn de biāo zhǔn fēi cháng kē kè.
    This customer's standards for quality inspection are very severe.
  • 苛刻
    Zài kē kè de tiáo jiàn xià, tuán duì réng rán wán chéng le rèn wu.
    Under harsh conditions, the team still completed the task.

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