Meaning
狠 describes someone or something that is ruthless, fierce, or merciless in action or attitude. It can refer to being harsh or cruel toward others, or to being resolute and determined (sometimes to the point of being hard on oneself). The character combines 犭(dog radical) and 艮, suggesting an aggressive, biting quality.
Usage
Commonly used to describe ruthless people, harsh methods, or fierce determination. Can be used positively when describing someone who is tough on themselves to achieve goals (狠心), or negatively when describing cruelty. Often appears in phrases like 心狠 (cruel-hearted) or 下狠心 (to steel oneself). The adverbial form means 'fiercely' or 'severely'.
Examples
- 01他下了狠心，决定辞职去创业。, .He steeled himself and decided to quit his job to start a business.
- 02这个人太狠了，连自己的亲人都不放过。, .This person is too ruthless; he doesn't even spare his own relatives.
Common collocations
- 心狠cruel-hearted, ruthless
- 狠心to harden one's heart, to be cruel
- 下狠心to steel oneself, to be resolute
- 又狠又准both ruthless and accurate
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 犭(dog radical, suggesting animal fierceness) with 艮 (gěn), which suggests stopping or limiting. Together they convey the idea of fierce, unrelenting behavior.