Main Translations

English: cruel

Thai: โหดร้าย (Primary Translation 1)

Phonetic: hòt râi (Romanized pronunciation)

Detailed Explanation: The word "cruel" is an adjective used to describe actions, behaviors, or individuals that cause unnecessary pain, suffering, or harm, often without remorse. In Thai, "โหดร้าย" carries similar connotations, emphasizing emotional or physical brutality. It is commonly used in scenarios involving injustice, such as animal cruelty or harsh treatment in relationships. SEO Note: This term is frequently searched in contexts like "cruel word explanation" for language learners comparing English and Thai vocabulary. Semantic nuances include a strong negative emotional connotation, evoking sympathy for the victim and moral judgment toward the perpetrator.

Thai: ทารุณ (Secondary Translation 2)

Phonetic: ta-roon (Romanized pronunciation)

Detailed Explanation: "ทารุณ" is another Thai equivalent for "cruel," often implying more severe or systematic forms of cruelty, such as torture or oppression. It is used in formal contexts like legal discussions or historical narratives. Usage scenarios might include describing war crimes or abusive authority figures. Emotional connotations involve deep outrage and a call for justice, with nuances that highlight intentionality and intensity, making it a stronger term than "โหดร้าย" in some cases. SEO Note: This translation is relevant for searches on "cruel in Thai" in educational or cultural contexts.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "cruel" is primarily used as an adjective to describe harmful or unkind actions, people, or situations that evoke negative emotions like pity or anger. Common usage scenarios include everyday conversations about personal experiences (e.g., a cruel boss), literary descriptions, news reports on social issues, and ethical discussions. In Thai contexts, it often appears in media, literature, and social media debates, reflecting cultural sensitivities toward fairness and compassion. SEO Note: This overview targets users searching for "usage of cruel in sentences" by summarizing practical applications across personal, professional, and cultural settings.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The manager's cruel decision to lay off employees without notice devastated the team.

Thai: การตัดสินใจที่โหดร้ายของผู้จัดการในการปลดพนักงานโดยไม่แจ้งล่วงหน้าทำให้ทีมรู้สึกแตกสลาย (Kan dtat sin jai thi hòt râi khong poo jang nai kan plaad pan wa juk doi mai jaeng laewng haa tam hai tim ru seuk taek salai).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The manager's" (possessive noun phrase) modifies "cruel decision" (adjective + noun); "to lay off" (infinitive phrase as object); "employees without notice" (direct object + prepositional phrase); "devastated the team" (verb + direct object).

Structural Analysis: This is a complex sentence with a subject-verb-object structure, where "cruel" functions as an attributive adjective intensifying the noun "decision." It highlights cause-and-effect in a professional context, common in business communication. SEO Note: Useful for "cruel word explanation" in workplace scenarios.

Leisure Scenario

English: The movie's cruel plot twist left the audience in shock.

Thai: โพลต์ทวิสต์ที่โหดร้ายของภาพยนตร์เรื่องนี้ทำให้ผู้ชมรู้สึกช็อก (Phlot twist thi hòt râi khong pang yon rueang ni tam hai poo chom ru seuk chok).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The movie's" (possessive); "cruel plot twist" (adjective + noun phrase); "left the audience" (verb + direct object); "in shock" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: A simple sentence with a subject-complement structure, where "cruel" adds emotional depth to the entertainment context. It demonstrates how adjectives modify nouns to convey surprise or disappointment. SEO Note: Relates to searches for "usage of cruel in sentences" in casual entertainment discussions.

Formal Occasion

English: The judge described the criminal's actions as cruel and inhumane during the trial.

Thai: ผู้พิพากษาอธิบายการกระทำของอาชญากรว่าเป็นการทารุณและไร้มนุษยธรรมในระหว่างการพิจารณาคดี (Poo phi phak sa a thibai kan kra tham khong a chanya khon wa pen kan ta-roon lae rai manut ta tham nai taang kan pijarn a khadi).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The judge" (subject); "described" (verb); "the criminal's actions" (possessive noun phrase as object); "as cruel and inhumane" (adjective phrase); "during the trial" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: This compound sentence uses "cruel" in a predicative role, emphasizing legal formality and moral judgment. It builds on parallel structures for impact. SEO Note: Targets "cruel in Thai" for formal or legal language learners.

Informal Occasion

English: That was a cruel joke; you really hurt her feelings.

Thai: นั่นเป็นเรื่องตลกที่โหดร้ายมาก คุณทำให้เธอรู้สึกเจ็บปวดจริงๆ (Nan pen reuang tlok thi hòt râi mak, khun tam hai ter ru seuk jeb pao jing jing).

Grammatical Breakdown: "That was" (linking verb); "a cruel joke" (adjective + noun); "you really hurt" (subject + adverb + verb); "her feelings" (possessive pronoun + noun).

Structural Analysis: An exclamatory-informal sentence where "cruel" intensifies the criticism, common in everyday conversations. It uses direct address for emphasis. SEO Note: Ideal for "usage of cruel in sentences" in social interactions.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: The dictator's regime was known for its cruel policies.

Thai: ระบอบของทรราชย์เป็นที่รู้จักในนโยบายที่โหดร้าย (Ra bop khong tra ratchi pen thi ru jak nai nha yoh bhai thi hòt râi).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The dictator's regime" (subject); "was known" (verb phrase); "for its cruel policies" (prepositional phrase with adjective).

Structural Analysis: Straightforward subject-verb-complement structure, stating a fact. "Cruel" modifies "policies" descriptively. SEO Note: Common in educational content for "cruel word explanation."

Interrogative Sentence

English: Is it cruel to ignore someone's plea for help?

Thai: เป็นการโหดร้ายหรือไม่ที่จะเพิกเฉยต่อคำร้องขอความช่วยเหลือของใครสักคน? (Pen kan hòt râi rue mai thi ja peek chuey tor kham rong khor khwam chuay leu khong khrai sak khon?)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Is it" (inverted subject-verb); "cruel" (predicate adjective); "to ignore" (infinitive phrase); "someone's plea" (possessive noun).

Structural Analysis: Question form with "cruel" as the focus, prompting ethical reflection. SEO Note: Engages users searching for interactive "usage of cruel in sentences."

Imperative Sentence

English: Don't be cruel to animals; treat them with kindness.

Thai: อย่าเป็นคนโหดร้ายกับสัตว์ ควรปฏิบัติต่อพวกมันด้วยความเมตตา (Ya pen khon hòt râi gap sat, khuan patibat tor phuk man duai khwam met ta).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Don't be" (imperative verb); "cruel to animals" (adjective + prepositional phrase); "treat them" (verb + object).

Structural Analysis: Command structure using "cruel" to advise against behavior. SEO Note: Useful for "cruel in Thai" in advocacy contexts.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: How cruel it is to abandon a loyal pet!

Thai: โหดร้ายอะไรเช่นนี้ที่ทิ้งสัตว์เลี้ยงที่ซื่อสัตย์! (Hòt râi a rai chen ni thi ting sat liang thi sue sat!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "How cruel" (exclamation + adjective); "it is" (linking verb); "to abandon" (infinitive); "a loyal pet" (adjective + noun).

Structural Analysis: Emphasizes emotion through exclamation, with "cruel" amplifying outrage. SEO Note: Enhances engagement for "cruel word explanation."

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: He was cruel to his friends.

Thai: เขาโหดร้ายกับเพื่อนของเขา (Khao hòt râi gap peuan khong khao).

Grammatical Breakdown: "He" (subject); "was cruel" (verb + adjective); "to his friends" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb-object structure for beginners. SEO Note: Beginner-friendly for "usage of cruel in sentences."

Intermediate Sentence

English: The cruel weather forced us to cancel our outdoor plans.

Thai: สภาพอากาศที่โหดร้ายบังคับให้เรายกเลิกแผนกลางแจ้ง (Saphap a gas thi hòt râi bang khop hai rao yak leek phan klang jaeng).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The cruel weather" (subject with adjective); "forced us" (verb + object); "to cancel" (infinitive); "our outdoor plans" (possessive + noun).

Structural Analysis: Compound elements show cause-effect, suitable for intermediate learners. SEO Note: Builds on "cruel in Thai" for practical use.

Complex Sentence

English: Although she meant well, her cruel words during the argument caused lasting damage to their friendship.

Thai: แม้ว่าเธอจะมีเจตนาดี แต่คำพูดที่โหดร้ายของเธอในระหว่างการโต้แย้งทำให้ความสัมพันธ์ของพวกเขามีความเสียหายถาวร (Ma wa ter ja mi je tana dee, tae kham phut thi hòt râi khong ter nai taang kan toe yaeng tam hai khwam sam pan khong phuk khao mi khwam sia hai ta waan).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although she meant well" (subordinate clause); "her cruel words" (possessive + adjective + noun); "caused lasting damage" (verb + object).

Structural Analysis: Involves clauses for advanced nuance, with "cruel" in a key descriptive role. SEO Note: Advanced for "cruel word explanation."

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Harsh – Used to describe severe or unkind treatment, often in disciplinary contexts (e.g., "a harsh punishment").
• Brutal – Implies extreme violence or cruelty, common in news or action descriptions (e.g., "brutal attack").

Antonyms:

• Kind – Refers to compassionate and gentle behavior, contrasting with "cruel" in ethical discussions (e.g., "a kind gesture").
• Compassionate – Emphasizes empathy and care, often used in humanitarian contexts (e.g., "compassionate leadership").

Common Collocations:

• Cruel treatment – Refers to abusive or unfair handling, as in animal rights or human rights issues.
• Cruel world – Describes a harsh reality, often in philosophical or literary contexts, evoking realism in storytelling.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, the concept of "cruel" (e.g., โหดร้าย) is deeply tied to Buddhist principles of compassion and karma. Acts of cruelty are often viewed as violations of "metta" (loving-kindness), leading to social stigma or legal consequences. For instance, in Thai media, cruelty in stories reflects moral lessons, as seen in folklore like the Ramakien, where villains embody cruel traits. SEO Note: This ties into searches for "cruel in Thai" cultural insights.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Cruel" and its Thai equivalents are frequently used in everyday language among younger demographics on social media, with high popularity in discussions about social justice. It appears less in formal speech but is common in informal settings, with applicable groups including students, activists, and parents teaching ethics. SEO Note: Highlights frequency for users exploring "usage of cruel in sentences" in modern contexts.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function: "Cruel" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns (e.g., "cruel leader") or appearing in predicate positions (e.g., "The act was cruel"). It can act as a subject complement or object complement in sentences.

Tense and Voice: As an adjective, "cruel" does not change with tense; instead, it relies on the verb in the sentence (e.g., "is cruel" in present tense, "was cruel" in past tense). In passive voice, it might appear in structures like "The decision was seen as cruel," where the focus shifts to the receiver of the action. SEO Note: Essential for "cruel word explanation" in grammar-focused searches.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "cruel" originates from the Latin "crudelis," meaning harsh or unfeeling, evolving through Old French "cruel" in the 14th century to its modern English form. Historically, it has been used in literature to critique social injustices, such as in Shakespeare's works. In Thai, "โหดร้าย" derives from native roots, with "โหด" meaning wild or fierce, reflecting cultural evolution in language. SEO Note: Provides depth for "cruel word explanation" etymology searches.

Literary References:

• From William Shakespeare's "King Lear": "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!" – Here, "cruel" is implied in the betrayal, highlighting familial cruelty.
• From Thai literature in "Phra Aphai Mani" by Sunthorn Phu: Descriptions of cruel villains underscore moral contrasts, similar to "cruel" in English narratives.