酷
cruel · severe · atrocious · unjust
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
wine + 告
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of wine and tell. Strong like wine.
Symbolism
Cruel, harsh, severe. Represents cruelty.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
残忍酷薄
ざんにんこくはく
cruel; heartless; brutal; cruel
冷酷無情
れいこくむじょう
cruel and heartless; merciless; implacable; cruel and heartless
冷酷無残
れいこくむざん
cruel and heartless; merciless; implacable; cruel and heartless
残酷非道
ざんこくひどう
inhumanity; atrocity; abominable cruelty; inhumanity
Proverbs & Idioms
酷似は注意の証
こくじはちゅういのあかし
Strong resemblance warrants caution
Be wary of things that look too similar
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 酷 mean in Japanese?
酷 means cruel, severe, atrocious, unjust.
How do you read 酷?
On'yomi: コク (KOKU). Kun'yomi: ひど.い (hidoi).
How many strokes does 酷 have?
酷 has 14 strokes. Its radical is 酉 (wine).
Is 酷 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 酷 (cruel, severe, atrocious, unjust) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for cruel · kanji for severe