苛刻

kē kè

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adjective Uncommon

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Definitions

1. harsh
2. severe
3. demanding

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 宽容 kuān róng 宽容 kuān róng lenient 对他人错误或缺点宽厚包容: lenient

Related words

1 item

• 挑剔 tiāo ti 挑剔 tiāo ti picky 指过分注重细节，难以取悦，常形容人: picky

Synonyms

2 items

• 严厉 yán lì 严厉 yán lì severe 指态度或标准非常严格，不宽容: severe
• 严格 yán gé 严格 yán gé strict 强调在遵守规则或标准时不放松，用于制度、要求等: strict

Usage notes

Common mistakes

“苛刻”常用于形容要求、条件或评价过分严厉，不用于形容人的外表或天气等。

Formality

多用于书面语或正式场合，口语中可直接用“太严了”等表达。

Example Sentences

1 shown

老板的要求很 苛刻 ，没有人能达到。

The boss's requirements are very harsh, and nobody can meet them.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 苛刻

• 刻 刻 kè: quarter (hour)
• 苛 苛 kē: severe