Chinese word

残忍

Pronunciation

Pinyincán rěn

Meaning

  • adjectivecruel

Example

你觉得他残忍吗？nǐ jué de tā cán rěn ma

Do you think he is cruel?

Illustration for 残忍 (cruel)

More examples

历史上很多独裁者实行了残忍的统治。lì shǐ shàng hěn duō dú cái zhě shí xíng le cán rěn de tǒng zhì

Throughout history, many dictators have imposed cruel rule.

Core concept

Severe harm delivered with a complete lack of pity for the person who suffers.

Common phrases

  • 残忍的手段cán rěn de shǒu duàn

    cruel methods

  • 对儿童残忍duì ér tóng cán rěn

    cruel to children

  • 残忍的统治cán rěn de tǒng zhì

    cruel rule

Similar words

残酷cán kù: Deliberately harsh and brutal in causing pain, injury, or serious damage.
冷酷lěng kù: Showing a cold lack of concern for other people's pain and feelings.

Definition in Chinese

对他人施加严重痛苦或伤害，缺乏怜悯和同情心的行为或性格。duì tā rén shī jiā yán zhòng tòng kǔ huò shāng hài quē fá lián mǐn hé tóng qíng xīn de xíng wéi huò xìng gé

Word origin

In the compound 残 (cán, "cruel and damaging") + 忍 (rěn, "ruthless"), both components point toward harshness, producing a word for cruelty that causes real suffering.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the adjective can judge a person, an act, or a system, so it is not limited to describing an unkind personality.

Other meanings

  • brutaladjective
  • ruthlessadjective
  • inhumaneadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 残忍性cán rěn xìngcrueltynoun

Word lists with this word