酷 kù strong
strong; stimulating; cool
怎么记住“酷”: 酉 wine + 告 to tell = strong. Uncle Bo pours from a dusty jug of wine and starts to tell the guests that it is very old and very strong.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
酷 = 酉 wine + 告 to tell
- 酉 wine meaning
- 告 to tell sound
- 𠂒 cow
- 口 mouth
Uncle Bo pours from a dusty jug of wine and starts to tell the guests that it is very old and very strong.
How it came to be
Wine gives the meaning and the right part the sound: wine with a strong taste.
用法
- 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.