caan4 huk6殘酷残酷

Jyutpingcaan4 huk6

Yalechàahn huhk

形容詞Common

Definition

Cruel, ruthless, or brutal, causing extreme pain without mercy.

neutralemotiondescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on the harshness of reality or systemic situations rather than just individual personality traits. It is frequently applied to abstract concepts like competition, fate, or the nature of life itself. While it can describe people, it often implies a cold, calculated indifference rather than impulsive anger.

Examples

ni1呢go3個sai3世gaai3界jau5有si4時zan1真hai6係hou2好caan4殘huk6酷。

This world is sometimes really cruel.

nei5你m4唔hou2好deoi3對keoi5佢gam3咁caan4殘huk6酷laa1啦。

Don't be so cruel to him.

Common phrases

caan4殘huk6酷jin6現sat6實

cruel reality

caan4殘huk6酷ging3競zang1爭

brutal competition

Common mistake

Avoid using it to describe someone who is simply mean or rude, as those are better expressed by 刻薄 or 衰. It carries a much heavier weight, implying significant suffering or trauma.