bou6 joek6暴虐
Jyutpingbou6 joek6
Yalebouh yeuhk
Definition
Cruel, brutal, and atrocious.
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How it's used
This term is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe extreme cruelty or tyranny. While it can describe individuals in a colloquial sense, it carries a heavy, serious tone that is rarely used in casual daily chatter. It often appears in historical discussions or critiques of power structures rather than describing everyday behavior.
Examples
That ruler is truly atrocious.
Why is he so cruel and violent towards the children?
Related words
Common phrases
tyrannical and devoid of justice
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 殘忍, which is a more general term for cruelty. 暴虐 specifically implies an abuse of power or a tyrannical nature, making it less suitable for describing simple mean-spirited actions.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
