Meanings of 苛
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About 苛
Podcast: 苛
Podcast: 苛
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AI Study Notes for 苛
苛 (kē) vs 严 (yán) — use 苛 for severity in criticism or demands, while 严 emphasizes strictness or seriousness in a broader sense.
Learners often confuse 苛 with other characters that have similar meanings, such as 严 (yán), which means strict but can have a more supportive connotation. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in written language.
While 苛 is not included in HSK levels, understanding its meaning can enhance vocabulary related to criticism and discipline. Focus on similar characters like 严 (strict) and 刻 (to carve) to build connections.
Learners may mistakenly use 苛 (kē) in casual contexts where a milder term like 严 (yán) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '苛的老师' (kē de lǎoshī) instead of '严厉的老师' (yánlì de lǎoshī) for 'strict teacher' can sound overly harsh.
Pronunciation of 苛
Drill the tone of 苛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 苛
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 可 represents the sound.
grass
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 苛
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 可 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half可 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaygrass
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 苛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 苛
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How to say severe, harsh; rigorous, exacting in Chinese
“severe, harsh; rigorous, exacting” in Chinese is苛
The character 苛 (kē) describes a state of being severe or harsh, often in terms of criticism or demands. It is commonly used to convey the idea of rigorous standards or exacting expectations, particularly in contexts that involve discipline or judgment.
When to use 苛
Learners often confuse 苛 with other characters that have similar meanings, such as 严 (yán), which means strict but can have a more supportive connotation. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in written language.
苛 or something close to it
苛 (kē) vs 严 (yán) — use 苛 for severity in criticism or demands, while 严 emphasizes strictness or seriousness in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 苛 (kē) in casual contexts where a milder term like 严 (yán) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '苛的老师' (kē de lǎoshī) instead of '严厉的老师' (yánlì de lǎoshī) for 'strict teacher' can sound overly harsh.
Write 苛
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Practice writing 苛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 苛
苛 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
他是个____刻的批评家，但却是个非常善良的人。
He was a stern critic but an extremely kindly man.
Example Sentences for 苛 (7)
Word Family of 苛
Compound Meaning
What does 苛刻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 苛
You might say 苛刻的要求 (kēkè de yāoqiú) which means 'exacting demands'.
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