caan4 bou6殘暴残暴
Jyutpingcaan4 bou6
Yalechàahn bouh
Definition
Cruel, brutal, and violent.
neutraldescriptionspeople
How it's used
Describes behavior or actions that are excessively cruel, often implying a lack of empathy or humanity. While it can apply to personal conduct, it is frequently used to describe oppressive regimes or historical figures who inflict suffering without restraint. It carries a much stronger, more formal weight than simply calling someone mean or bad.
Examples
He is so brutal to the cat, it is really going too far.
Why is this ruler so brutal?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical pain or minor injuries, as it specifically refers to the nature of an act or a person's character rather than the result of an accident.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
