酷刑

kùxíng

noun #14,661

Meanings

1 torture
2 cruel punishment

Characters

cruel; harsh; cool

punishment; penalty

Examples

HSK 4

国际法禁止使用酷刑。

Guójìfǎ jìnzhǐ shǐyòng kùxíng.

International law prohibits the use of torture.

HSK 7-9

那些囚犯遭受了酷刑。

Nàxiē qiúfàn zāoshòu le kùxíng.

Those prisoners were subjected to torture.

Tips

history

Ancient China had a codified system of punishments called 五刑 ('five punishments'). 酷刑 historically referred to punishments exceeding these official penalties in severity, extrajudicial cruelty.

Stroke Order

酷 kù

刑 xíng