粗暴

• Pinyin: cū bào
• Hanzi breakdown: 粗 = 米 + 且 (coarse, rough); 暴 = 日 + 共 + 水 (violent, fierce)

Meaning

Rough; brutal; crude. Describes behavior or actions that are forceful, violent, or lacking in delicacy.

Used for physical roughness, aggressive behavior, or harsh treatment. Can describe people, actions, or methods. Often carries negative connotation implying lack of refinement or care.

Examples

1. 他用粗暴的方式对待员工，导致很多人离职。 He treated employees in a rough manner, causing many to resign.
2. 不能用粗暴的手段解决问题，要讲究方式方法。 You can't solve problems with brutal methods — you need to pay attention to approach.
3. 孩子被粗暴地推开后哭了起来。 The child started crying after being roughly pushed aside.

Usage Guide

Context: criticism, behavior, description

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他的态度太粗暴了。(His attitude is too rough.)
• 粗暴执法是不对的。(Rough enforcement is wrong.)

Don't Say

• 她粗暴地温柔对待我 (Contradictory — 粗暴 and 温柔 are opposites)

Origin & History

Compound of 粗 (coarse, rough) + 暴 (violent, sudden). Together describing rough, violent behavior.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal