苛

kē

可 + 艹

Definitions

kē severe; exacting

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 可 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 可

About

A phonosemantic compound: 艹 (grass) represents the meaning and 可 (kě) represents the sound. Originally, the character referred to a small, irritating weed. Because such weeds are hardy and annoying, the meaning shifted to describe people who are excessively demanding, picky, or harsh. Today it is mainly an adjective for severe rules, oppressive taxation, or exacting individuals who fixate on minor flaws to create difficulty.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他对员工很苛刻。

Tā duì yuángōng hěn kēkè.

He is very harsh towards his employees.

老板的要求过于苛刻。

Lǎobǎn de yāoqiú guòyú kēkè.

The boss's demands are excessively苛刻.

这项规定显得十分苛酷。

Zhè xiàng guīdìng xiǎnde shífēn kēkù.

This rule appears extremely harsh and severe.

别对自己有太多苛求。

Bié duì zìjǐ yǒu tài duō kēqiú.

Don't make too many exacting demands on yourself.

古代有些赋税非常苛重。

Gǔdài yǒuxiē fùshuì fēicháng kēzhòng.

Some taxes in ancient times were extremely heavy and oppressive.

她苛责自己每一个小错误。

Tā kēzé zìjǐ měi yī gè xiǎo cuòwù.

She severely reproaches herself for every small mistake.

在这种苛严的环境下很难成长。

Zài zhè zhǒng kēyán de huánjìng xià hěn nán chéngzhǎng.

It's difficult to grow up in such a strict and harsh environment.

他内心苛烈的自我批判从未停止。

Tā nèixīn kēliè de zìwǒ pīpàn cóng wèi tíngzhǐ.

The severe self-criticism within his heart never stops.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 可

Component: 艹

苛