酷 kù strong
strong; stimulating; cool
How to remember 酷: 酉 whisky bottle + 告 to tell = strong. Uncle Bo pours from a dusty whisky bottle and starts to tell the guests that it is very old and very strong.
Component breakdown
酷 = 酉 whisky bottle + 告 to tell
- 酉 whisky bottle
- 告 to tell
- 𠂒 calf
- 口 mouth
Uncle Bo pours from a dusty whisky bottle and starts to tell the guests that it is very old and very strong.
How it is used
- Original sense: harsh/cruel/extreme. 残酷 (cánkù) brutal, 冷酷 (lěngkù) cold and unfeeling, 酷暑 (kùshǔ) fierce summer heat.
- 酷似 (kùsì) = to closely resemble. In modern slang 酷 is the loanword for cool (from English) - 这车很酷 (zhè chē hěn kù) this car is cool.