苛 (kē) - harsh & severe

苛Tone 1

kē ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

俊梁

苛 · kē

harsh;

severe;

exacting;

demanding;

petty;

also refers to certain plants like the Chinese thoroughwax.

harshsevereexacting

Usage highlights

harsh and severeexacting demandharsh conditionsheavy taxationharsh governmentstrict law

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The teacher is very strict (苛刻).
  • He endured harsh conditions (苛酷 conditions).
  • The tax burden was heavy (苛捐杂税).
  • Don't be too demanding of others (苛求).

Collocations

  • harsh and severe(苛刻)
  • exacting demand(苛求)
  • harsh conditions(苛酷)
  • heavy taxation(苛捐杂税)
  • harsh government(苛政)
  • strict law(苛法)

Idioms

  • Harsh government is fiercer than a tiger(苛政猛于虎)
  • Exacting and severe(苛捐杂税)
  • Strict and demanding(苛求无已)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Derived from the concept of plants being overgrown and tangled, extending to mean 'excessive' or 'harsh'.
  • In Confucian thought, '苛政猛于虎' criticizes oppressive governance as worse than wild beasts.
  • Often used in historical contexts to describe oppressive policies and heavy taxation.

FAQ