Chinese word

狠话

Pronunciation

Pinyinhěn huà

Meaning

  • nounharsh words

Example

别对孩子说狠话。bié duì hái zi shuō hěn huà

Don't use harsh words with children.

Illustration for 狠话 (harsh words)

More examples

朋友之间开玩笑也不要说狠话。péng yǒu zhī jiān kāi wán xiào yě bú yào shuō hěn huà

Don't say harsh words even when joking with friends.

Core concept

Language with a deliberate hard edge, used to hurt someone, intimidate them, or show cold hostility.

Common phrases

  • 对孩子说狠话duì hái zi shuō hěn huà

    say harsh words to children

  • 用狠话伤人yòng hěn huà shāng rén

    hurt people with harsh words

Similar words

恶言è yán: Malicious words used to condemn someone or speak badly about them.
刻薄话kè bó huà: Cold, mean-spirited words that deliberately hurt someone.
辱骂rǔ mà: Insulting, abusive words used to attack someone verbally.
脏话zāng huà: Vulgar language or swear words that sound dirty and offensive.

Definition in Chinese

指为了伤害、威胁或表达冷酷态度而说出的粗暴或刻薄的言语。zhǐ wèi le shāng hài wēi xié huò biǎo dá lěng kù tài dù ér shuō chū de cū bào huò kè bó de yán yǔ

Word origin

狠话 (hěnhuà, "harsh words") combines 狠 (hěn, "fierce") and 话 (huà, "speech"), forming a compound for speech marked by deliberate harshness.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may call a statement harsh without implying hostile intent, but this noun more strongly suggests that the speaker means to hurt or intimidate.

Other meanings

  • mean wordsnoun
  • biting remarksnoun

Opposites

  • 好话hǎo huàkind wordsnoun

Word lists with this word