残忍 cánrěn cruel
cruel; mean; merciless; ruthless
How to remember 残忍: 残 to injure + 忍 to endure = cruel.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Cruel, merciless, brutal' - 手段残忍 (shǒuduàn cánrěn) cruel methods.
- Describes ruthless, heartless behavior toward living beings.
- Near 残酷 (cánkù) but 残忍 stresses personal cruelty/lack of mercy, 残酷 the harshness of circumstances too.
Example sentences
- 他跟她说这样的话真是太残忍了。 Tā gēn tā shuō zhèyàngdehuà zhēnshìtài cánrěn le.It is cruel of him to say such things to her.