残酷

cán kù

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adjective Common

Definitions

1. cruel
2. cruelty

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 仁慈 rén cí 仁慈 rén cí benevolent 仁慈 means 'benevolent' or 'kind', the opposite of cruel.: benevolent

Related words

2 items

• 严酷 yán kù 严酷 yán kù bitter 严酷 means 'harsh' or 'severe', often used for conditions or treatment.: bitter
• 冷酷 lěng kù 冷酷 lěng kù unfeeling; callous 冷酷 means 'cold-hearted' or 'unfeeling', emphasizing emotional coldness.: unfeeling; callous

Synonyms

1 item

• 残忍 cán rěn 残忍 cán rěn cruel Both mean 'cruel', but 残酷 often implies cruelty with severity or ruthlessness in a broader sense.: cruel

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 现实 (reality), 斗争 (struggle), or 事实 (fact) to describe harsh realities.

Common mistakes

Do not use 残酷 to describe spicy food; use 辣 (spicy) instead. 残酷 is only for cruelty or severity.

Example Sentences

1 shown

这个现实太 残酷 了。

This reality is too cruel.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 残酷

• 残酷无情 残酷无情 cán kù wú qíng: cruel and unfeeling (idiom)

Child Words of 残酷

• 残 残 cán: to destroy
• 酷 酷 kù: ruthless