Meanings and Usage
The character 酷 (kù) has two main senses in modern Mandarin. One is informal and positive, meaning "cool" or "stylish," often used to describe people, clothes, or behavior that impress others. The other is more formal and negative, meaning "harsh" or "severe," typically describing strictness or cruelty.
Common Collocations
- 酷炫 (kùxuàn): flashy and cool, often about appearance or style.
- 酷暑 (kùshǔ): intense summer heat, used in formal or literary contexts.
- 酷刑 (kùxíng): cruel punishment, legal or historical term.
Usage Notes
When used to mean "cool," 酷 is usually positive and casual, common among young people. It often appears in spoken language and informal writing. When describing weather or temperature, 酷 can mean "cold" or "chilly," but this usage is less common and more regional.
The harsh meaning is more formal and appears in compound words or serious contexts. Avoid confusing 酷 with similar-sounding words like 苦 (kǔ, "bitter") or 库 (kù, "warehouse").
Summary
Use 酷 to express admiration for style or attitude in casual speech. Use it in compounds to describe severity or harshness in formal contexts. Pay attention to context to understand which meaning is intended.
Meanings and Usage
The character 酷 (kù) has two main senses in modern Mandarin. One is informal and positive, meaning "cool" or "stylish," often used to describe people, clothes, or behavior that impress others. The other is more formal and negative, meaning "harsh" or "severe," typically describing strictness or cruelty.
Common Collocations
- 酷炫 (kùxuàn): flashy and cool, often about appearance or style.
- 酷暑 (kùshǔ): intense summer heat, used in formal or literary contexts.
- 酷刑 (kùxíng): cruel punishment, legal or historical term.
Usage Notes
When used to mean "cool," 酷 is usually positive and casual, common among young people. It often appears in spoken language and informal writing. When describing weather or temperature, 酷 can mean "cold" or "chilly," but this usage is less common and more regional.
The harsh meaning is more formal and appears in compound words or serious contexts. Avoid confusing 酷 with similar-sounding words like 苦 (kǔ, "bitter") or 库 (kù, "warehouse").
Summary
Use 酷 to express admiration for style or attitude in casual speech. Use it in compounds to describe severity or harshness in formal contexts. Pay attention to context to understand which meaning is intended.
Meanings and Usage
The character 酷 (kù) has two main senses in modern Mandarin. One is informal and positive, meaning "cool" or "stylish," often used to describe people, clothes, or behavior that impress others. The other is more formal and negative, meaning "harsh" or "severe," typically describing strictness or cruelty.
Common Collocations
- 酷炫 (kùxuàn): flashy and cool, often about appearance or style.
- 酷暑 (kùshǔ): intense summer heat, used in formal or literary contexts.
- 酷刑 (kùxíng): cruel punishment, legal or historical term.
Usage Notes
When used to mean "cool," 酷 is usually positive and casual, common among young people. It often appears in spoken language and informal writing. When describing weather or temperature, 酷 can mean "cold" or "chilly," but this usage is less common and more regional.
The harsh meaning is more formal and appears in compound words or serious contexts. Avoid confusing 酷 with similar-sounding words like 苦 (kǔ, "bitter") or 库 (kù, "warehouse").
Summary
Use 酷 to express admiration for style or attitude in casual speech. Use it in compounds to describe severity or harshness in formal contexts. Pay attention to context to understand which meaning is intended.