冷酷

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冷酷 [2025/08/13 03:10] – created xiaoer冷酷 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== lěngkù: 冷酷 - Cruel, Cold-hearted, Unfeeling ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** lěngkù, 冷酷, cold-hearted in Chinese, cruel in Chinese, unfeeling, ruthless, Chinese adjective for cruel, how to say ruthless in Chinese, lěngdàn vs lěngkù, HSK 5 vocabulary. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **冷酷 (lěngkù)**, a powerful Chinese adjective used to describe someone who is cruel, cold-hearted, and unfeeling. This guide explores its character breakdown, cultural context, and practical examples, helping you understand how it differs from simply being "cold" (`冷淡 lěngdàn`) or "cool" (`酷 kù`). Master this HSK 5 word to accurately describe ruthless behavior or the chilling demeanor of a movie villain. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lěngkù +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** Describing a person, action, or expression as emotionally cold, unfeeling, and often cruel or ruthless. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **冷酷 (lěngkù)** is much stronger than just being quiet or unfriendly. It describes a deep and often deliberate lack of empathy. Think of a classic movie villain who acts without a shred of compassion, a boss who fires employees with a cold stare, or a decision made with no regard for human feeling. It’s a chilling coldness that implies a hard, unfeeling heart. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **冷 (lěng):** This character's primary meaning is "cold" in temperature. Metaphorically, it represents emotional coldness, distance, and indifference. +
-  * **酷 (kù):** The classical meaning of this character is "harsh," "severe," or "cruel." (Note: In modern slang, this character is also used as a loanword for "cool," but in **冷酷**, it retains its original, harsh meaning). +
-  * Together, **冷 (cold) + 酷 (cruel)** create a vivid image of someone whose personality is defined by a harsh, severe coldness. Their lack of warmth isn't passive; it's an active, almost weaponized form of indifference that can be genuinely cruel. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-In Chinese culture, which often places a high value on **热情 (rèqíng - enthusiasm, warmth)** and social harmony, being described as **冷酷 (lěngkù)** is a very strong and serious criticism. It suggests a person is not just failing to be warm and friendly, but is fundamentally lacking in human empathy and compassion (`同情心 tóngqíngxīn`). +
-A useful Western comparison is the concept of being "cold-blooded." Both terms describe a chilling lack of emotion connected to cruel acts. However, **冷酷 (lěngkù)** often focuses more on the *internal state* of being unfeelingly cold as a character trait, from which cruel actions naturally follow. "Cold-blooded" might be used more specifically to describe a particular heinous act (e.g., a cold-blooded murder). To call a person **冷酷** is to make a judgment about their core personality. It signifies a profound departure from the expected norms of interpersonal warmth and human decency. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**冷酷 (lěngkù)** is a powerful adjective used to express strong negative judgment. Its connotation is almost always negative. +
-  * **Describing People:** This is the most common usage. It's perfect for describing a villain (`反派 fǎnpài`) in a TV show, a stern and merciless boss, or a person who acts with complete disregard for others' feelings. +
-  * **Describing Actions or Expressions:** You can describe a decision as **冷酷** (e.g., a "ruthless decision"), a look as **冷酷** (a "cold-hearted stare"), or a refusal as **冷酷** (a "cruel rejection"). +
-  * **Formality:** It's a strong word used in both everyday conversation and more formal or literary contexts. Because of its strength, it's not a word to be used lightly. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 那个老板对待员工非常**冷酷**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nàge lǎobǎn duìdài yuángōng fēicháng **lěngkù**. +
-    * English: That boss treats his employees very cruelly. +
-    * Analysis: A classic example of describing a person's general behavior. It implies he is not just strict, but unfeelingly harsh. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 电影里的反派露出了一个**冷酷**的微笑。 +
-    * Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de fǎnpài lùchū le yíge **lěngkù** de wēixiào. +
-    * English: The villain in the movie revealed a cold-hearted smile. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **冷酷** modifies a noun (`微笑` - smile), showing how an action can reflect this quality. A "cold-hearted smile" is chilling and devoid of warmth. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 他**冷酷**地拒绝了我的请求，连看都没看我一眼。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā **lěngkù** de jùjuéle wǒ de qǐngqiú, lián kàn dōu méi kàn wǒ yìyǎn. +
-    * English: He ruthlessly rejected my request, without even glancing at me. +
-    * Analysis: The adverbial form `冷酷地 (lěngkù de)` is used here to describe *how* an action (rejecting) was performed. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 你怎么能这么**冷酷**？他毕竟是你的朋友！ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme néng zhème **lěngkù**? Tā bìjìng shì nǐ de péngyǒu! +
-    * English: How can you be so cold-hearted? He's your friend, after all! +
-    * Analysis: This shows **冷酷** used in a direct, accusatory question, highlighting the speaker's shock at someone's lack of empathy. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 现实是**冷酷**的，我们必须学会坚强。 +
-    * Pinyin: Xiànshí shì **lěngkù** de, wǒmen bìxū xuéhuì jiānqiáng. +
-    * English: Reality is cruel; we must learn to be strong. +
-    * Analysis: **冷酷** can be used to describe abstract concepts like "reality" (`现实`), personifying it as an unfeeling force. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 分手后，她变成了一个**冷酷**无情的人。 +
-    * Pinyin: Fēnshǒu hòu, tā biànchéngle yíge **lěngkù** wúqíng de rén. +
-    * English: After the breakup, she became a cold and heartless person. +
-    * Analysis: This example pairs **冷酷** with `无情 (wúqíng - heartless)`, a common combination that reinforces the meaning. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 他的眼神很**冷酷**，让人不寒而栗。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā de yǎnshén hěn **lěngkù**, ràng rén bù hán ér lì. +
-    * English: His gaze was very cold-hearted, it made people shudder. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom `不寒而栗 (bù hán ér lì - to tremble without being cold)` to emphasize the chilling effect of a **冷酷** look. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 这是一个**冷酷**的决定，但对公司来说是必要的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yíge **lěngkù** de juédìng, dàn duì gōngsī láishuō shì bìyào de. +
-    * English: This is a ruthless decision, but it's necessary for the company. +
-    * Analysis: Shows that a **冷酷** action can sometimes be framed as a pragmatic or necessary evil, even if it's unpleasant. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 在战争中，士兵们必须变得**冷酷**才能生存。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zài zhànzhēng zhōng, shìbīngmen bìxū biànde **lěngkù** cái néng shēngcún. +
-    * English: In war, soldiers must become ruthless in order to survive. +
-    * Analysis: Context matters. Here, being **冷酷** is presented as a survival mechanism rather than an inherent personality flaw. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 他的话语像刀子一样**冷酷**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā de huàyǔ xiàng dāozi yíyàng **lěngkù**. +
-    * English: His words were as cruel as a knife. +
-    * Analysis: A simile comparing words to a knife, with **冷酷** being the quality that makes them so sharp and hurtful. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-**1. `冷酷 (lěngkù)` vs. `冷淡 (lěngdàn)` - The MOST Common Pitfall** +
-This is a crucial distinction for learners. +
-  * **冷淡 (lěngdàn):** Means "indifferent," "aloof," or "lukewarm." It describes a *lack of enthusiasm or warmth*. Someone might be `冷淡` because they are shy, tired, or simply not interested. It's negative, but much milder. +
-    * //Correct:// 他今天对我很**冷淡**，可能是我说错了什么话。 (Tā jīntiān duì wǒ hěn lěngdàn, kěnéng shì wǒ shuō cuòle shénme huà.) - "He was very aloof towards me today, maybe I said something wrong." +
-  * **冷酷 (lěngkù):** Means "cruel" or "cold-hearted." It implies a *lack of empathy and compassion*, often with a hint of malice. It's a fundamental character flaw. +
-    * //Correct:// 只有**冷酷**的人才能对流浪动物视而不见。 (Zhǐyǒu lěngkù de rén cáinéng duì liúlàng dòngwù shì'érbùjiàn.) - "Only a cold-hearted person could turn a blind eye to stray animals." +
-**2. `冷酷 (lěngkù)` vs. `酷 (kù)` - The "Cool" False Friend** +
-The character `酷` on its own has been co-opted into modern slang as a loanword for "cool" (as in stylish, awesome). This creates a massive potential for misunderstanding. +
-  * **酷 (kù) = Cool / Awesome (Compliment)** +
-    * //Correct:// 你这个新发型真**酷**！ (Nǐ zhège xīn fàxíng zhēn kù!) - "Your new hairstyle is so cool!" +
-  * **冷酷 (lěngkù) = Cruel / Cold-hearted (Insult)** +
-    * //Correct:// 他是一个**冷酷**的杀手。 (Tā shì yíge lěngkù de shāshǒu.) - "He is a cold-hearted killer." +
-    * **Incorrect Usage:** To say someone is stylish, you would //never// say `他很冷酷`. This would mean "He is very cruel." The correct phrase is `他很酷`. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[冷淡]] (lěngdàn) - A lesser degree of coldness; means "indifferent" or "aloof," not necessarily cruel. +
-  * [[无情]] (wúqíng) - A very close synonym for `冷酷`, meaning "heartless" or "without feeling." Often used interchangeably. +
-  * [[冷血]] (lěngxuè) - A strong synonym meaning "cold-blooded." It carries a very visceral, almost monstrous connotation. +
-  * [[残忍]] (cánrěn) - A synonym meaning "brutal" or "savage." It emphasizes the physical or active cruelty of an act more than the internal emotional state. +
-  * [[热情]] (rèqíng) - The direct antonym: "enthusiastic," "warm," "passionate." +
-  * [[麻木]] (mámù) - A related concept meaning "numb" or "apathetic." While a `麻木` person might act in a `冷酷` way, `麻木` describes being desensitized, often due to trauma, whereas `冷酷` is seen more as an active character trait. +
-  * [[铁石心肠]] (tiě shí xīn cháng) - A common idiom (chengyu) that means "to have a heart of iron and stone." It is a perfect, more literary synonym for being `冷酷`.+