Meaning
冷酷 describes someone or something that is emotionally cold, unfeeling, and lacking in compassion or mercy. It combines the concepts of coldness (冷) and harshness (酷) to convey a personality or action that shows no warmth or sympathy toward others. This word carries a strongly negative connotation and is often used to describe cruel behavior or indifferent attitudes.
Usage
This is a formal, somewhat literary adjective commonly used in written Chinese, news reports, and serious discussions about character or behavior. It's stronger than simply saying someone is 不友好 (unfriendly) and implies a deliberate lack of empathy. Often used to describe villains in stories, harsh political regimes, or people who show no mercy in their actions.
Examples
- 01他用冷酷的眼神看着那些乞求帮助的人。.He looked at those begging for help with a cold-hearted gaze.
- 02战争的冷酷现实让很多人失去了家园。.The cruel reality of war caused many people to lose their homes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 冷酷无情cold-blooded and ruthless
- 冷酷的现实harsh reality
- 冷酷地拒绝to refuse coldly/callously
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 冷 (cold, as in temperature and emotion) with 酷 (severe, harsh, extreme). Together they create a vivid metaphor: as cold as ice and as harsh as extreme punishment, describing someone devoid of warmth and compassion.