严酷

嚴酷
yánkù
  1. bitter
  2. harsh
  3. grim
  4. ruthless
  5. severe
  6. cut-throat (competition)

CEDICT

  1. cruel; inhumane
  2. harsh; bitter

Wiktionary

严厉苛酷。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 严 yán
  1. tight (closely sealed)
  2. stern
  3. strict
  4. rigorous
  5. severe
  6. father
2 酷 kù
  1. ruthless
  2. strong (e.g. of wine)
  3. (loanword) cool
  4. hip

Related entries

惨烈 cǎnliè
  1. bitter
  2. desperate
惨痛 cǎntòng
  1. bitter
  2. painful
  3. deeply distressed
苦 kǔ
  1. bitter
  2. hardship
  3. pain
  4. to suffer
  5. to bring suffering to
  6. painstakingly
苦盡甘来。

No sweet without sweat.

Source: Tatoeba

辛酸 xīnsuān
  1. pungent (taste)
  2. bitter
  3. fig. sad
  4. miserable
荼 tú
  1. thistle
  2. common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
  3. bitter (taste)
  4. cruel
  5. flowering grass in profusion
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