酷 (kù) - Cool — fashionable, trendy & also meaning cruel, ruthless

酷Tone 4

kù ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

酷 · kù

Cool — fashionable, trendy;

also meaning cruel, ruthless;

severe, intense.

Cool — fashionable, trendyalso meaning cruel, ruthlesssevere, intense.

Usage highlights

Cool guyCool lookIntense heatCruel punishmentCool and aloofExtremely cruel

Synonyms

  • 帅— handsome, cool (positive)
  • 残忍— cruel, brutal (negative)
  • 严厉— strict, severe

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • That outfit looks really cool (酷).
  • He has a cool personality (性格很酷).
  • The summer heat is intense (酷暑).
  • The tyrant was cruel and ruthless (酷吏).

Collocations

  • Cool guy(酷哥)
  • Cool look(酷造型)
  • Intense heat(酷热)
  • Cruel punishment(酷刑)
  • Cool and aloof(冷酷)
  • Extremely cruel(残酷)

Idioms

  • Cruel exploitation and ruthless oppression(残酷剥削)
  • Cold and ruthless(冷酷无情)
  • Extreme heat and severe cold(酷暑严寒)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'cruel, severe' in classical Chinese, derived from 酉 (wine/alcohol) radical suggesting intensity.
  • In modern usage, adopted the meaning 'cool, fashionable' from English loanword influence since the 1990s.
  • The character reflects both traditional negative connotations (cruelty) and contemporary positive meanings (trendiness).

FAQ