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残酷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
残酷cánkùcruelHSK 7, a, rank #3814, Hard
残酷cánkùcrueltyHSK 7, a, rank #3814, Hard
cánkù(can2ku4) T2
  1. 1cruel
  2. 2cruelty
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March 24, 2026
残酷(殘酷)cánkù(can2ku4)

残酷 (cánkù) refers to a quality of being unkind, harsh, or ruthless. It is often used to describe actions, behaviors, or situations that lack compassion and are cruel in nature. This word is commonly found in discussions about injustice, suffering, or severe conditions.

Frequency#3814DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and media, themes of cruelty often reflect societal issues or historical injustices, making 残酷 a significant term in discussing moral dilemmas and human rights.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 残 (cán) as representing '残破' (damaged) and 酷 (kù) as '酷刑' (cruel punishment). Visualize a broken heart under a harsh spotlight to remember that cruelty often brings pain and suffering. The pronunciation 'can2 ku4' can be remembered as 'can' (like 'can you bear this?') and 'kù' as in 'kook' (a person who might act cruelly).

Meanings of 残酷

cánkù(can2ku4)
1cruel
2cruelty
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 残酷

残酷Simplified
殘酷Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3814Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 残酷

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Podcast: 残酷

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AI Study Notes for 残酷

Quick Contrast

残忍 (ránrěn) — use 残酷 for describing situations or actions that are harsh, while 残忍 emphasizes the cruelty of a person or their character.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of the character 残 (cán) as representing '残破' (damaged) and 酷 (kù) as '酷刑' (cruel punishment). Visualize a broken heart under a harsh spotlight to remember that cruelty often brings pain and suffering. The pronunciation 'can2 ku4' can be remembered as 'can' (like 'can you bear this?') and 'kù' as in 'kook' (a person who might act cruelly).

Usage Notes

Use 残酷 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious as it carries a strong negative connotation. Common collocations include 残酷的现实 (cruel reality) and 残酷的竞争 (cruel competition). Watch out for the tone; it's easy to confuse it with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 残酷 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and social issues. Students should focus on using it in context, especially with phrases that express strong sentiments or moral evaluations.

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and media, themes of cruelty often reflect societal issues or historical injustices, making 残酷 a significant term in discussing moral dilemmas and human rights.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 残酷 with the more neutral term 苛刻 (kēkè), which means harsh but not necessarily cruel. For example, saying '这份工作很残酷' (This job is cruel) instead of the more appropriate '这份工作很苛刻' (This job is harsh) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 残酷

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Component Characters

残cánto destroy
HSK 79 strokes歹
View full entry
酷kùruthless
HSK 614 strokes酉
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Write 残酷

残
酷

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Grammar Patterns of 残酷

残酷 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

那不是有些太____了吗？

Isn't that a bit harsh?

Example Sentences for 残酷 (5)

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1
那不是有些太残酷了吗？

nà bù shì yǒu xiē tài cán kù le ma？

Isn't that a bit harsh?
2
把动物关在狭小的空间里是残酷的。

bǎ dòng wù guān zài xiá xiǎo de kōng jiān lǐ shì cán kù de。

It is cruel to keep animals in confined spaces.
3
这些残酷的刑具是用来阻止犯人弯腿的。

zhè xiē cán kù de xíng jù shì yòng lái zǔ zhǐ fàn rén wān tuǐ de。

These cruel devices are designed to stop prisoners bending their legs.
4
但是有一天他的幻梦终于被打破了, 很残酷地打破了.

dàn shì yǒu yī tiān tā de huàn mèng zhōng yú bèi dǎ pò le, , hěn cán kù dì dǎ pò.

But then, one day, his dreams were shattered, cruelly and bitterly shattered.
5
他故意说的残酷无情的话对她像刀割一样。

tā gù yì shuō de cán kù wú qíng de huà duì tā xiàng dāo gē yī yàng。

The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife.

Cultural Notes for 残酷

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature and media, themes of cruelty often reflect societal issues or historical injustices, making 残酷 a significant term in discussing moral dilemmas and human rights.

Frequently Asked Questions about 残酷

While both terms convey a sense of harshness, 残酷 often implies a deeper, more systemic cruelty observed in societal contexts.