冷酷

• Pinyin: lěng kù
• Hanzi breakdown: 冷 = 冫(ice radical) + 令 (command — cold); 酷 = 酉 (fermented) + 告 (declare — intensely harsh)

Meaning

Cold-hearted; ruthless; merciless. Describes a person or behaviour devoid of warmth, compassion, or empathy.

Applied to people, attitudes, or actions that are unfeeling and harsh. Stronger than 严厉 (strict) in that it implies a complete absence of kindness. Common in literary descriptions of villains, authoritarian figures, and pitiless systems.

Examples

1. 这位将军以冷酷著称，从不对失职士兵手下留情。 The general was known for being ruthless and never showed leniency to soldiers who neglected their duties.
2. 他冷酷的眼神让在场的所有人都不寒而栗。 His cold, ruthless stare sent a chill through everyone present.
3. 市场竞争有时是冷酷的，弱小的企业往往毫无还手之力。 Market competition can be ruthless; smaller companies often have no way to fight back.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, politics, business, characterisation

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他以冷酷的态度拒绝了所有求情。(He rejected all pleas with cold-hearted indifference.)
• 历史上不乏以冷酷手段维持权力的统治者。(History is not short of rulers who maintained power through ruthless means.)

Don't Say

• 把冷酷与冷静混用 — 冷静表示镇定理智，冷酷暗含无情残忍，语义完全不同

Origin & History

冷 (cold) + 酷 (cruel/harsh)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal