JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji
酷 — cruel
- Reading
- コク・ひど.い
- Meaning
- cruel; severe; atrocious; unjust
- JLPT level
- N1
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
酷 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is コク・ひど.い and it means cruel; severe; atrocious; unjust. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
酷 appears in everyday japanese words such as 冷酷 (cruelty), 残酷 (cruelty) and 酷い (cruel).
Japanese words containing 酷
Frequently asked questions
What does 酷 mean in Japanese?
酷 means cruel; severe; atrocious; unjust in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 酷 read?
酷 is read コク・ひど.い. Reading it inside real words — 冷酷 and 残酷 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 酷 — is it JLPT N1?
Yes. 酷 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 酷 in a word?
A common word containing 酷 is 冷酷 (れいこく) — "cruelty". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 酷 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 酷 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N1 kanji
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