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冷酷 (lěng kù) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

冷酷 (lěng kù) is a Chinese word: cold and cruel. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 冷酷

形 xíng adjective

cold and cruel

她用冷酷的眼神看着他。

tā yòng lěng kù de yǎn shén kàn zhe tā

She looked at him with cold and cruel eyes.

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Word breakdown

冷 lěng — cold (emotionally distant, lacking warmth)

Words with this character (12)
  • 1 冷静 lěng jìng — calm HSK 4
    • 冷 cold, cool (metaphorically: not heated by emotion)
    • 静 still, quiet, composed (inner tranquility)
    Example

    遇到紧急情况时，我们要保持冷静。

    yù dào jǐn jí qíng kuàng shí wǒ men yào bǎo chí lěng jìng

    When encountering an emergency situation, we must stay calm.

  • 2 寒冷 hán lěng — cold HSK 4
    • 寒 cold, chilly (emphasizing severe coldness)
    • 冷 cold (reinforces and intensifies the meaning of coldness)
    Example

    寒冷的冬天让人想待在家里。

    hán lěng de dōng tiān ràng rén xiǎng dāi zài jiā lǐ

    The cold winter makes people want to stay at home.

  • 3 冷冻 lěng dòng — to freeze HSK 7
    • 冷 cold (temperature aspect)
    • 冻 freeze (action of solidifying)
    Example

    请把剩菜冷冻保存。

    qǐng bǎ shèng cài lěng dòng bǎo cún

    Please freeze the leftovers for storage.

  • 4 冷却 lěng què — to cool HSK 7
    • 冷 cold; provides the core meaning of coldness
    • 却 away/off; acts as a complement indicating the removal or reduction of heat
    Example

    让食物冷却后再放入冰箱。

    ràng shí wù lěng què hòu zài fàng rù bīng xiāng

    Let the food cool down before putting it in the refrigerator.

  • 5 冷战 lěng zhàn — Cold War HSK 7
    • 冷 cold (metaphorical - without direct military confrontation)
    • 战 war (political and ideological conflict)
    Example

    冷战结束后，世界格局发生了巨大变化。

    lěng zhàn jié shù hòu shì jiè gé jú fā shēng le jù dà biàn huà

    After the Cold War ended, the world order underwent tremendous changes.

Show more (+7)

酷 kù — cruel (harsh, severe, merciless)

Words with this character (2)
Structure & writing
1 冷 lěng — cold; low in temperature (opposite of 热)

冷 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 冫 bīng — ice radical
冫 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 1
冷 lěng cold; low in temperature (opposite of 热)
HSK 2
准 zhǔn standard; norm; criterion 次 cì order; rank
HSK 3
冰 bīng ice; solid water formed at or below 0°C 决 jué to breach (of a dike); originally to channel water, later to have a dike broken open by water 净 jìng clean; neat 凉 liáng cool; slightly cold (of weather, milder than 冷) 凌 líng to bully, oppress, or humiliate
HSK 4
况 kuàng situation; condition 减 jiǎn to subtract or remove a part from a whole
HSK 5
冲 chōng to pour boiling water over; (of water current) to strike against 冻 dòng to freeze (of a liquid or water-containing substance) 弱 ruò weak in strength or power (opposite of 强)
HSK 6
匀 yún even, uniform; to make even
HSK 7
冶 yě to smelt (metal) 凄 qī cool; cold 凋 diāo withered, faded 凑 còu to piece together; to gather 凝 níng to congeal; (of liquid) to solidify due to cold or heat, or (of gas) to liquefy due to lower temperature or higher pressure
1.2 令 lìng — order; command (from superior to subordinate)
令 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 1
冷 lěng cold; low in temperature (opposite of 热) 零 líng fragmentary; scattered; small in number (opposite of 整)
HSK 3
邻 lín neighbor; neighboring household
HSK 4
命 mìng life; the living force of organisms 龄 líng age (in years)
HSK 5
铃 líng bell or buzzer (metal sound-making device) 领 lǐng neck; throat
HSK 6
怜 lián to pity, to sympathize
HSK 7
岭 lǐng mountain with a path over its summit 拎 līn to carry (something) in one's hand 聆 líng (lit.) to listen; to listen attentively

Stroke order

2 酷 kù — cruel, brutal, savage

酷 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 酉 yǒu — tenth of the twelve Earthly Branches
酉 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 2
酒 jiǔ alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grains or fruit
HSK 4
酸 suān acid (chemistry: compound that ionizes to produce hydrogen ions, neutralizes bases, reacts with metals to produce salts and hydrogen gas) 醒 xǐng to sober up; to regain consciousness after intoxication, anesthesia, or coma
HSK 5
配 pèi to marry (of a man and woman) 醉 zuì drunk; intoxicated from excessive drinking
HSK 6
酱 jiàng fermented paste condiment made from beans or wheat (e.g. yellow bean paste, sweet bean paste) 酷 kù cruel, brutal, savage 醋 cù vinegar (sour condiment made by fermenting grains such as sorghum or rice)
HSK 7
蘸 zhàn to dip into (a liquid, powder, or paste) 酌 zhuó to pour (wine); to drink (wine) 酗 xù to act wildly drunk 酝 yùn to brew wine 酣 hān drinking to one's heart's content
Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)
酥 sū food made from the skin of curdled cow's or goat's milk; clarified butter (ancient usage) 酪 lào semi-solid or solid dairy product made from animal milk (cheese, curd, etc.) 酬 chóu remuneration; payment for labor 酵 jiào fermentation; chemical decomposition of organic substances by enzymes or fungi, used in leavening bread, brewing wine, etc.; the fungi that cause fermentation are called '酵母菌' (yeast) 酿 niàng to brew or ferment (using fermentation) 醇 chún (lit.) strong-flavored liquor
2.2 告 gào — to tell, inform, or announce something to others
告 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 5
造 zào to make; to manufacture 靠 kào to lean against; to be close to
HSK 6
酷 kù cruel, brutal, savage
HSK 7
浩 hào vast, grand, magnificent

Stroke order