冷酷无情

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: lěng kù wú qíng
• English Translation: Cold-blooded and heartless
• Idiom Composition: 「冷」（Cold or indifferent）＋「酷」（Cruel or harsh）＋「无」（Without or lacking）＋「情」（Human emotion, compassion, or feeling）
• Meaning: Extremely cold and cruel, showing no sympathy or concern for others' feelings or pain. It is a strong derogatory term used to describe a complete lack of human warmth or compassion.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「冷酷无情」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme Indifference: This goes beyond being unfriendly; it refers to an icy coldness where one remains completely unmoved even when others are suffering.
• Cruel Nature: As the character 酷 (kù) suggests, the attitude is often harsh enough to cause mental or physical pain to others.
• Lack of Humanity: The term 无情 (wú qíng) emphasizes the absence of the affection and mercy that humans are naturally expected to possess.

3. Usage

「冷酷无情」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Character Description: Used to critically describe the personality of dictators, villains, or extremely selfish individuals.
  • Example:「那个独裁者冷酷无情，为了保住权力不惜牺牲无数人的生命。」
    （That dictator was cold-blooded and heartless, willing to sacrifice countless lives to maintain his power.）
• Harshness of Reality: A personification used to describe how reality, fate, or natural disasters strike people without mercy.
  • Example:「面对冷酷无情的现实，他不得不放弃了最初的梦想。」
    （Faced with cold and ruthless reality, he had no choice but to give up his original dream.）
• Strict Decisions: Refers to harsh decisions or attitudes in business or legal contexts that leave no room for leniency.
  • Example:「公司为了削减成本，做出了裁员这一冷酷无情的决定。」
    （To cut costs, the company made the cold and heartless decision to lay off staff.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他那冷酷无情的眼神让人感到不寒而栗。
   （His cold and heartless gaze made people shudder.）
2. 战争是冷酷无情的，它摧毁了无数幸福的家庭。
   （War is cold-blooded and ruthless, destroying countless happy families.）
3. 虽然法律有时候显得冷酷无情，但它是维护社会秩序的基础。
   （Although the law sometimes seems cold and unfeeling, it is the foundation for maintaining social order.）
4. 没想到平时温和的他，在利益面前竟然变得如此冷酷无情。
   （I never expected that he, usually so gentle, would become so cold-blooded in the face of profit.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Usage Context: Because this is a very strong critical term, it is not suitable for lighthearted jokes or mild criticism between friends. It carries the weight of fundamentally condemning someone's character.
• Literary and Moral Background: This idiom appears in the works of modern authors like Lao She (老舍). It represents an attitude that contradicts traditional values such as 仁 (rén - benevolence) and 义 (yì - righteousness). In Chinese culture, where 人情 (rén qíng - human relationship/feeling) is highly valued, being 'without feeling' is considered a significant moral failing.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 无情无义 (wú qíng wú yì): Lacking both affection and a sense of duty; being ungrateful.link
  • 铁石心肠 (tiě shí xīn cháng): A heart of iron and stone; used to describe someone who is cold and lacks sympathy.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 柔情蜜意 (róu qíng mì yì): Tender and sweet affection; very deep love.
  • 多愁善感 (duō chóu shàn gǎn): Sentimental and easily moved by emotion; sensitive.
  • 善解人意 (shàn jiě rén yì): Understanding and considerate of others' feelings.link
  • 无微不至 (wú wēi bù zhì): To be meticulous and considerate in every possible way.link

6. Summary

冷酷无情 (lěng kù wú qíng) is a powerful critical expression used to describe a state where human warmth and sympathy are entirely absent. Beyond just being 'cold,' it implies a level of cruelty. It is often used to describe the personality of dictators or villains, but can also personify harsh realities like war, disasters, or unforgiving social circumstances.