| こ | く | 
|---|---|
| 酷 | 
| は | く | 
|---|---|
| 薄 | 
adjectival noun or quasi-adjective, noun
- cruel, inhumane, callous, brutal.
 
Variations
| Pronunciation | Kanji | Kana | Is Common | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
                                
 
  | 
                            酷薄 | こくはく | |||||||
                                
 
  | 
                            刻薄 | こくはく | 
Contained Kanji Breakdown
cruel, severe, atrocious
コク ひど.い (9th, N1)
west, bird, sign of the bird
とり ユウ なが (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
dilute, thin, weak (tea)
うす.い ハク すすき (7th, N2)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
far and wide
フ ハク あまねし (Kentei 1)
to state to, to announce
フ ホ しく
for the first time, not until
ホ フ はじ.めて (Kentei Pre-1, N1)