cruel

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is こく, and the kun reading is ひどい. It has 14 strokes. It appears in words for severe conditions and coldhearted people or actions.
• Basic usage: 酷い is read ひどい, and 冷酷 is read れいこく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 酷い / 冷酷
  • 酷い means severe or awful and is read ひどい. It describes wind, language, or another condition as severe or awful.
  • 昨日は風が酷かったので、外出を控えた。 means “The wind was very strong yesterday, so I stayed indoors.”
  • 冷酷 means coldhearted or ruthless and is read れいこく. It describes a person or order as coldhearted or ruthless.
  • 物語の領主は冷酷な命令を部下に下した。 means “The lord in the story gave his subordinates a ruthless order.”