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N1Kanji
酷
cruel, severe, harsh
Readings
- On
- コク
Examples
残酷（ざんこく）、酷い（ひどい）、酷暑（こくしょ）
cruel, terrible, extreme heat
Note
Appears in many compounds — memorize the key ones rather than the kanji in isolation. Has multiple meanings (cruel; severe; harsh). Context determines which applies — pay attention in reading passages.
Questions that use this word
N2 1 · N1 6From the JLP Quiz question bank — the word in the form it is actually tested in.
- N1N1 文法
この映像は残酷すぎて、見る___。
Answer: にたえない
- N1N1 文法
他人の不幸を笑うとは、残酷さ___。
Answer: にもほどがある
- N2N2 語彙
長い年月をかけて、この生物は過酷な環境に適応するよう（ ）してきた。
Answer: 進化
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