Chinese–EnglishWith examples

苛刻

kē kè · ke ke

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. harsh; severe; demanding
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

The strict boss

  1. Liangliang

    你们(nǐmen)老板(lǎobǎn)是不是(shìbùshì)很(hěn)苛刻(kēkè)？

    Is your boss very demanding?

  2. Dengdeng

    有点(yǒudiǎn)，他(tā)对(duì)咖啡(kāfēi)的(de)要求(yāoqiú)很(hěn)苛刻(kēkè)。

    A bit. His standards for coffee are very strict.

  3. Liangliang

    怎么(zěnme)个(gè)苛刻(kēkè)法(fǎ)？

    How strict, exactly?

  4. Dengdeng

    水(shuǐ)的(de)温度(wēndù)要(yào)刚好(gānghǎo)九十(jiǔshí)度(dù)。

    The water must be exactly ninety degrees.

  5. Liangliang

    这(zhè)也(yě)太(tài)苛刻(kēkè)了(le)！

    That's too strict!

  6. Dengdeng

    不过(bùguò)他(tā)自己(zìjǐ)喝(hē)的(de)是(shì)冰水(bīngshuǐ)。

    But what he drinks himself is ice water.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)在(zài)慢(màn)慢(màn)习(xí)惯(guàn)这(zhè)苛(kē)刻(kè)的(de)气(qì)候(hòu)。

I am slowly adjusting to the harsh climate here.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Aphima · English by sundown · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

老(lǎo)板(bǎn)对(duì)员(yuán)工(gōng)的(de)要(yāo)求(qiú)太(tài)苛(kē)刻(kè)了(le)。

The boss's demands on the employees are too harsh.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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