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A2 noun 10 Min. Lesezeit

心狠手辣

xīn hěn shǒu là
Beispiele 心狠手辣 in 30 Sekunden
Erklärung 心狠手辣 in your Level:
At the A1 level, we focus on basic descriptions. '心狠手辣' is a difficult word because it has four characters, but you can think of it as a very strong way to say 'a very bad person' (一个非常坏的人). In Chinese, we have special four-character phrases called 'Chengyu'. This one describes someone who does bad things and does not care about others' feelings. Imagine a villain in a movie who wants to take everything and hurts people to do it. That person is '心狠手辣'. You might not use this word yourself yet, but if you hear it in a cartoon or a simple story, it means the character is the 'bad guy'. Remember: 心 (xīn) is heart, and 手 (shǒu) is hand. So, it means a bad heart and bad hands (actions). It is the opposite of being kind or nice. When you see a character in a book who is mean to everyone, you can try to think: 'He is 心狠手辣'.
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For A2 learners, '心狠手辣' (xīn hěn shǒu là) is a useful idiom for describing personality. It means 'cruel and ruthless'. You can use it to describe characters in movies or history. The word breaks down into two parts: '心狠' (cruel heart) and '手辣' (ruthless hand/methods). This means the person is mean on the inside and does mean things on the outside. For example, if a king kills his friends to stay king, he is '心狠手辣'. In a sentence, you can say '他是一个心狠手辣的人' (He is a ruthless person). It is much stronger than just saying '坏' (bad) or '生气' (angry). It implies the person is dangerous. At this level, you should recognize that this is a negative word. You wouldn't use it for your friends unless you are joking about a game, but even then, it's very strong. Focus on the structure: Subject + (很/是一个) + 心狠手辣 + (的人).
At the B1 level, you are starting to understand more nuanced descriptions of character. '心狠手辣' describes a specific type of ruthlessness that involves calculated cruelty. It's not just a person who is 'mean' (刻薄) or 'angry' (愤怒); it's someone who is willing to use extreme, often violent or unethical methods to get what they want. In business or politics, this might describe someone who destroys their competitors without mercy. Notice the use of '辣' (spicy/stinging). Just as spicy food can burn your mouth, a '手辣' person's actions 'burn' or hurt others severely. You will often see this word in news reports about serious crimes or in historical novels. It’s important to distinguish it from '残忍' (cán rěn - cruel). While '残忍' can describe a single act, '心狠手辣' often describes a person's consistent character or a complex series of ruthless actions. When writing, use it to add color to your descriptions of antagonists.
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At the B2 level, you should be able to use '心狠手辣' in various grammatical contexts and understand its cultural weight. This Chengyu is a classic example of the Chinese focus on the harmony between internal intent (心) and external action (手). A person who is '心狠手辣' is considered particularly dangerous because they lack the 'ren' (benevolence) that is central to Chinese social ethics. You can use it as an adjective, an adverbial (with 地), or a noun-modifier (with 的). For example, '他心狠手辣地排挤了所有对手' (He ruthlessly pushed out all his rivals). Understand that this term carries a moral judgment. By using it, the speaker is positioning themselves as someone who values morality over pure efficiency. It is also worth noting that in modern business contexts, it is sometimes used to describe 'cutthroat' competition, though still with a negative slant. You should be able to compare it with '冷酷无情' (cold and heartless) and '毒辣' (sinister).
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For C1 learners, '心狠手辣' should be part of your active literary vocabulary. You should recognize its use in classical literature and modern political analysis. The term often appears in discussions of historical figures like Cao Cao or Empress Wu Zetian, where their 'ruthlessness' is debated as a necessary evil for maintaining power versus a moral failing. You should be able to identify the rhetorical effect of this Chengyu—it creates a vivid, almost visceral image of cruelty. In your own writing, use it to describe high-stakes situations where ethics are abandoned for personal gain. You might also explore the psychological aspect: what makes a person '心狠手辣'? Is it a choice or a result of their environment? Using this word allows you to tap into a deep vein of Chinese storytelling tradition. Pay attention to its use in formal critiques or editorials where it serves to condemn corrupt practices or human rights abuses. It is a word that demands a strong stance from the writer.
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At the C2 level, you are expected to understand the philosophical and historical nuances of '心狠手辣'. This idiom encapsulates the tension between the 'Legalist' (法家) approach to power—which often prioritized results over morality—and the 'Confucian' (儒家) ideal of the benevolent ruler. When a historian uses '心狠手辣' to describe a figure, they are often making a profound statement about that person's relationship with the Mandate of Heaven or social stability. You should be able to analyze how the '辣' (stinging/harsh) element reflects a specific type of 'active' cruelty that differs from the 'passive' cruelty of '冷淡' (indifference). Furthermore, consider its use in modern psychological profiles or sociopolitical discourse to describe 'dark triad' personality traits. Your mastery should extend to using the term in sophisticated metaphors or as part of a larger argument about the nature of power and morality in the Sinosphere. At this level, you should also be aware of how the term is subverted in some 'anti-hero' narratives in modern web-novels, where a protagonist's '心狠手辣' is framed as a survival mechanism in a 'dog-eat-dog' world.
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Beispiele

心狠手辣 in 30 Sekunden

  • A powerful Chinese idiom meaning 'cruel and ruthless'.
  • Describes a combination of evil intent and brutal actions.
  • Commonly used for villains in movies, history, and news.
  • Always carries a strong negative moral judgment in Chinese.

The idiom 心狠手辣 (xīn hěn shǒu là) is a powerful four-character Chinese Chengyu used to describe someone who is exceptionally cruel, ruthless, and devoid of conscience. To understand this word, we must break down its components: 心 (xīn) means heart, 狠 (hěn) means cruel or fierce, 手 (shǒu) means hand, and 辣 (là) literally means spicy or stinging, but here it signifies harshness or brutality. When combined, it paints a picture of someone whose internal intentions (heart) are merciless and whose external actions (hand) are brutal. This isn't just about being 'mean'; it describes a level of calculated viciousness often found in villains of literature, historical tyrants, or modern-day criminals. In a professional or social context, it is a very serious accusation. You wouldn't use this to describe a strict teacher; you would use it to describe a boss who fires employees without cause and ruins their reputations out of spite.

Literal Breakdown
Heart-Cruel-Hand-Stinging. The sting of the hand represents the lasting pain caused by the person's actions.
Emotional Weight
It carries a strong negative connotation, implying a total lack of empathy and a willingness to do anything to achieve a goal.

为了夺取权力，他变得心狠手辣。(In order to seize power, he became cruel and ruthless.)

In Chinese culture, the 'heart' is the seat of morality. A person who is 'xin hen' has abandoned their moral compass. The 'hand' represents the execution of will. Therefore, 'shou la' means their methods are extreme. You will often hear this in historical dramas (Wuxia or Palace dramas) when describing an ambitious official or a cold-blooded assassin. In modern news, it might describe a particularly heinous crime. It is rarely used as a compliment, though in very specific 'hardboiled' fiction contexts, it might grudgingly acknowledge an enemy's efficiency.

那个毒枭心狠手辣，没人敢得罪他。(That drug lord is vicious; nobody dares to offend him.)

Social Context
Using this word about someone in their presence is a direct confrontation or a serious insult.

历史上的暴君大多心狠手辣。(Most tyrants in history were cruel and ruthless.)

When you encounter this word in reading, look for characters who prioritize their own gain over human life. It is the antithesis of 'Ren' (Benevolence), which is a core Confucian value. By calling someone '心狠手辣', you are essentially saying they have failed as a human being according to traditional standards. It suggests a person who would 'burn the bridge after crossing it' or 'kill the messenger'.

她虽然长得漂亮，但其实心狠手辣。(Although she is beautiful, she is actually quite vicious.)

Contrast
Contrast this with '心软' (xīn ruǎn - soft-hearted), which is the exact opposite trait.

做生意不能太心狠手辣，要留有余地。(You shouldn't be too ruthless in business; you should leave some room for others.)

Grammatically, 心狠手辣 functions primarily as an adjective or a predicative phrase. It describes a person's character or the nature of their actions. Because it is a four-character idiom (Chengyu), it is naturally compact and can be used in several structural ways. The most common way is to follow a subject directly or use the '为人' (wéi rén - to be a certain kind of person) structure. For example, '他为人心狠手辣' (His character is cruel and ruthless).

As a Predicate
It directly describes the subject. Example: '这个杀手心狠手辣。' (This assassin is ruthless.)

由于他心狠手辣，手下的人都很怕他。(Because he is ruthless, his subordinates are all afraid of him.)

You can also use it as an attributive to modify a noun, usually '手段' (shǒu duàn - means/methods) or '做法' (zuò fǎ - way of doing things). In this case, you would add '的' (de). For instance, '心狠手辣的手段' (ruthless methods). This emphasizes the quality of the action rather than the person themselves, though the person is implied to be the source of the action.

这种心狠手辣的行为遭到了社会的谴责。(This kind of vicious behavior was condemned by society.)

Comparison with similar terms
While '残忍' (cán rěn) also means cruel, '心狠手辣' specifically emphasizes the combination of a hard heart and a brutal execution style.

他为了钱财，竟然心狠手辣地对待自己的亲人。(For money, he actually treated his own relatives ruthlessly.)

In writing, this term is often used to create a strong contrast. A writer might describe a character as having a scholarly appearance but being '心狠手辣' in reality. This creates a sense of danger and unpredictability. It is a staple of the 'antagonist' description in Chinese narrative structures.

竞争对手采取了心狠手辣的策略，试图让我们破产。(The competitor adopted ruthless strategies, trying to make us go bankrupt.)

Colloquial use
In very informal speech, friends might use it jokingly if someone is being slightly mean, but it's usually too heavy for light banter.

别看他平时笑嘻嘻的，做起事来可真是心狠手辣。(Don't be fooled by his constant smiling; when he does things, he is truly ruthless.)

You will encounter 心狠手辣 in several specific domains of Chinese life and media. The most prominent is in historical and Wuxia (martial arts) dramas. These stories often feature power struggles where characters must be ruthless to survive or succeed. When a character is described this way, it's a signal to the audience that they are a major threat. You'll hear it in dialogue like: '此人心狠手辣，断不可留!' (This person is ruthless, we must not let him live!).

News and Media
Crime reporting often uses this to describe the nature of a crime or the suspect. It emphasizes the lack of humanity in the act.

警方表示，这起案件的凶手心狠手辣。(The police stated that the murderer in this case was extremely vicious.)

In business and corporate storytelling, it is used to describe cutthroat competition. While 'ruthless' in English can sometimes be a neutral term for efficiency, in Chinese, '心狠手辣' almost always implies an ethical boundary has been crossed. If a company is described as such, it usually means they have engaged in illegal or highly immoral practices to crush their rivals.

他在商场上心狠手辣，吞并了许多小公司。(He was ruthless in the business world, swallowing up many small companies.)

Literature
Classical novels like 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' or 'Water Margin' use this to describe the pragmatism of certain leaders or the cruelty of bandits.

曹操常被评价为一个心狠手辣的政治家。(Cao Cao is often evaluated as a ruthless politician.)

Finally, you might hear it in political commentary or historical discussions. When analyzing the fall of a dynasty or the rise of a dictator, historians may use this term to describe the purge of opponents. It serves as a moral judgment on the methods used to maintain power. Even in modern internet slang, it might be used hyperbolically to describe someone who is very decisive or 'hardcore', but its primary meaning remains dark and serious.

这部电影展示了黑社会内部心狠手辣的权力斗争。(This movie showcases the ruthless power struggles within the underworld.)

One of the most common mistakes learners make with 心狠手辣 is using it too lightly. Because English words like 'ruthless' or 'vicious' are sometimes used to praise a competitive athlete or a sharp lawyer, learners might think '心狠手辣' can be a compliment for being 'tough'. However, in Chinese, this term is almost exclusively negative. Using it to describe a friend who is good at winning games would be confusing and potentially offensive.

Mistake 1: Misinterpreting '辣'
Learners often think '辣' only means spicy. In this Chengyu, it means 'sinister' or 'harsh'. Don't confuse it with having a spicy personality!

错误用法：他的球技很心狠手辣。(Wrong: His ball skills are ruthless - implies he is a criminal.)

Another mistake is the word order. Since it's a fixed Chengyu, you cannot swap the characters. You cannot say '手辣心狠' or '心辣手狠'. The structure 'Heart-Cruel, Hand-Stinging' is a set rhythmic pattern that must be preserved. Swapping them makes the phrase sound 'broken' to a native speaker's ears.

正确用法：他是一个心狠手辣的人。(Correct: He is a ruthless person.)

Mistake 2: Confusing with '冷酷' (lěng kù)
'冷酷' means cold and unfeeling. You can be '冷酷' but passive. '心狠手辣' implies you are actively doing something cruel.

那个老板不仅冷酷，而且心狠手辣。(That boss is not only cold, but also ruthless.)

Finally, avoid using it to describe inanimate objects or natural disasters. You wouldn't say a storm is '心狠手辣' because a storm doesn't have a 'heart' (intent) or 'hands' (execution). It is strictly for human agents or personified entities like corporations or fictional monsters that possess agency.

不要因为一点小事就说别人心狠手辣。(Don't call others ruthless just because of a small matter.)

While 心狠手辣 is a specific and powerful term, Chinese has many other ways to describe cruelty depending on the nuance you want to convey. Understanding these alternatives will help you choose the right word for the right situation and improve your overall vocabulary precision.

毒辣 (dú là)
This means 'sinister and ruthless'. It's shorter and focuses more on the 'poisonous' (毒) nature of the intent. It's often used for schemes or plots.
残忍 (cán rěn)
This is the standard word for 'cruel'. It is more general and can be used for things like animal cruelty or a cruel fate, where '心狠手辣' would not fit.

他的手段比普通的残忍更进一步，简直是心狠手辣。(His methods go a step beyond ordinary cruelty; they are simply ruthless.)

Another related Chengyu is 冷酷无情 (lěng kù wú qíng), which means 'cold-blooded and heartless'. The difference is that '冷酷无情' emphasizes the lack of emotion and warmth, while '心狠手辣' emphasizes the proactive, violent, or extreme nature of the actions taken. A person who ignores a beggar is '冷酷无情'; a person who steals the beggar's last coin and beats him is '心狠手辣'.

与其说他冷酷无情，不如说他心狠手辣。(Rather than saying he is cold and heartless, it's better to say he is ruthless and vicious.)

凶狠 (xiōng hěn)
This means 'fierce and malicious'. It's often used to describe someone's appearance or a physical attack (e.g., a '凶狠' look in the eyes).

面对心狠手辣的敌人，我们不能有任何幻想。(Facing a ruthless enemy, we cannot have any illusions.)

For a more literary or formal alternative, you might see 暴戾 (bào lì), which refers to a violent and fierce temperament, often applied to tyrants. However, '心狠手辣' remains the most common and evocative way to describe the combination of evil intent and brutal action in modern Chinese.

他那种心狠手辣的作风，迟早会出事的。(That ruthless style of his will cause trouble sooner or later.)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

1

那个坏人很心狠手辣。

That bad person is very cruel and ruthless.

Subject + 很 + Chengyu.

2

他不爱别人，他心狠手辣。

He doesn't love others; he is ruthless.

Simple declarative sentence.

3

电影里的坏人总是心狠手辣。

The bad guys in movies are always ruthless.

General statement.

4

心狠手辣的人没有朋友。

Ruthless people have no friends.

Using the idiom as an adjective for '人'.

5

我们不要做一个心狠手辣的人。

We shouldn't be ruthless people.

Negative imperative.

6

他的心很狠，手也很辣。

His heart is cruel, and his hands are harsh (literal breakdown).

Breaking the idiom for emphasis.

7

他心狠手辣，做了坏事。

He is ruthless and did bad things.

Cause and effect.

8

小明不是心狠手辣的人。

Xiao Ming is not a ruthless person.

Negative sentence with '不是'.

1

这个老板心狠手辣，经常让员工加班。

This boss is ruthless; he often makes employees work overtime.

Describing a person's character in a work context.

2

为了赢，他变得心狠手辣。

In order to win, he became ruthless.

Using '变得' (become).

3

他虽然心狠手辣，但很有钱。

Although he is ruthless, he is very rich.

Contrast with '虽然...但...'.

4

你为什么对他这么心狠手辣？

Why are you so ruthless to him?

Question form with '对...这么'.

5

他是一个心狠手辣的竞争对手。

He is a ruthless competitor.

Attributive use with '的'.

6

在那个故事里，继母心狠手辣。

In that story, the stepmother is ruthless.

Contextual usage in a story.

7

他做事心狠手辣，不留余地。

He does things ruthlessly, leaving no room (for others).

Describing the style of doing things.

8

没人喜欢心狠手辣的人。

Nobody likes ruthless people.

Simple subject-verb-object.

1

为了达到目的，他可以心狠手辣地牺牲任何人。

To achieve his goals, he can ruthlessly sacrifice anyone.

Using '地' to form an adverb.

2

这部小说描写了一个心狠手辣的特工。

This novel depicts a ruthless secret agent.

Usage in literary description.

3

他这种心狠手辣的手段让人感到害怕。

His ruthless methods make people feel afraid.

Modifying '手段' (methods).

4

如果你对他太心狠手辣，他会报复你的。

If you are too ruthless to him, he will take revenge on you.

Conditional '如果...会...'.

5

历史证明，心狠手辣的统治往往不会长久。

History proves that ruthless rule often doesn't last long.

Describing an abstract concept (rule).

6

他为人处世心狠手辣，在圈子里名声很差。

He is ruthless in his dealings, and has a bad reputation in the circle.

Describing social conduct.

7

虽然他看起来和蔼，其实内心心狠手辣。

Although he looks kind, he is actually ruthless inside.

Contrast between appearance and reality.

8

面对如此心狠手辣的罪犯，警察必须小心。

Facing such a vicious criminal, the police must be careful.

Using '如此' (such).

1

在激烈的商业竞争中，他以心狠手辣著称。

In fierce business competition, he is known for being ruthless.

Using '以...著称' (known for...).

2

他那套心狠手辣的做法最终导致了他的失败。

That set of ruthless practices of his ultimately led to his failure.

Subject is a complex noun phrase.

3

我们不能因为对手心狠手辣就放弃我们的原则。

We cannot give up our principles just because the opponent is ruthless.

Using '因为...就...'.

4

这篇文章揭露了那个独裁者心狠手辣的一面。

This article exposed the ruthless side of that dictator.

Using '...的一面' (one side of...).

5

他为了保住地位，竟然心狠手辣地陷害忠良。

To keep his position, he actually ruthlessly framed loyal and good people.

Using '竟然' to express shock.

6

这种心狠手辣的作风在现代社会是行不通的。

This kind of ruthless style won't work in modern society.

Using '行不通' (won't work).

7

他心狠手辣地拒绝了所有贫困学生的求助。

He ruthlessly rejected all the pleas for help from poor students.

Adverbial usage describing a specific action.

8

与其说他果断，不如说他心狠手辣。

Rather than saying he is decisive, it's better to say he is ruthless.

Using '与其说...不如说...' (Rather than... better to say...).

1

在宫廷斗争中，只有心狠手辣的人才能生存到最后。

In palace struggles, only the ruthless can survive until the end.

Conditional survival in a specific context.

2

他那种心狠手辣的性格，注定了他孤独终老的命运。

His ruthless personality destined him to a fate of dying alone.

Personality determining fate.

3

导演通过细腻的镜头，展现了反派心狠手辣的心理转变过程。

Through delicate shots, the director showed the psychological transformation of the villain into someone ruthless.

Analyzing artistic portrayal.

4

他心狠手辣地铲除了所有可能威胁到他的人。

He ruthlessly eliminated everyone who could possibly threaten him.

Describing total elimination of opposition.

5

法律不应纵容这种心狠手辣的暴力行为。

The law should not tolerate such vicious acts of violence.

Legal and moral commentary.

6

他的成功是建立在心狠手辣地剥削他人的基础上的。

His success was built on the basis of ruthlessly exploiting others.

Describing the foundation of an achievement.

7

这种心狠手辣的政治手腕，在历史上并不少见。

This kind of ruthless political maneuvering is not uncommon in history.

Historical generalization.

8

他虽然表面儒雅，实则心狠手辣，是个典型的伪君子。

Although he appears refined on the surface, he is actually ruthless, a typical hypocrite.

Describing hypocrisy.

1

该剧深刻剖析了权欲如何使一个正直的人变得心狠手辣。

The drama deeply analyzes how the desire for power makes an upright person become ruthless.

Complex psychological analysis.

2

这种心狠手辣的扩张策略，虽能短期获利，却埋下了崩溃的种子。

This ruthless expansion strategy, while profitable in the short term, sows the seeds of collapse.

Metaphorical analysis of business strategy.

3

他在处理叛乱时表现出的心狠手辣，至今仍让史学家争议不断。

The ruthlessness he showed when dealing with the rebellion still causes debate among historians today.

Discussing historical controversy.

4

在这场博弈中，任何一丝心软都可能输给对手的心狠手辣。

In this game, any bit of soft-heartedness could lose to the opponent's ruthlessness.

Comparing abstract qualities in a game theory context.

5

他心狠手辣地利用了民众的信任，来实现自己的野心。

He ruthlessly exploited the people's trust to achieve his own ambitions.

Describing political manipulation.

6

这种心狠手辣的报复手段，反映了其内心极度的扭曲。

This ruthless method of revenge reflects the extreme distortion of his inner self.

Psychological reflection.

7

文学作品中那些心狠手辣的女性形象，往往具有复杂的社会背景。

Those ruthless female images in literary works often have complex social backgrounds.

Literary criticism.

8

他以一种近乎心狠手辣的冷静，处理了这起突发危机。

With a calmness bordering on ruthlessness, he handled this sudden crisis.

Nuanced description of cold efficiency.

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