What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 超 (chāo), meaning 'super' or 'transcend' and 酷 (kù), which is a phonetic loanword for 'cool'.
Which one should you use?
While 超酷 is a standard way to express this, you may encounter other variations: 超级酷 (chāojí kù) is used for 'super cool' in everyday conversations and the slang 酷到爆 (kù dào bào) means 'extremely cool'. If you want to say something is 'awesome' or 'kick-ass', you can use the slang term 牛逼 (niúbī) or use the informal phrase 太帅了 (tài shuài le) to mean 'so cool' or 'really handsome'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
超酷 is an informal phrase and is commonly used by younger generations. Similarly, 超级酷 and 太帅了 are informal, while 酷到爆 and 牛逼 are considered slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 超酷 to modify a noun, such as 'a super cool person', you should add the particle 的 (de) after the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
chāo kù
Did you know?
- While 超酷 is a safe way to say 'super cool', using the slang 牛逼 (niúbī) might actually land you in trouble in formal settings. It literally translates to 'cow vagina', which is quite a crude way to express admiration.
- While 酷 (kù) sounds like 'cool', the character itself originally meant 'severe' or 'harsh'.
- While 超酷 is common, older generations might use 时髦 (shímáo) to describe something trendy, as they find the loanword 酷 too westernized.
Examples in context
- 你的新发型非常酷！(Nǐ de xīn fǎxíng fēicháng kù!)Your new hairstyle is super cool!
- 看那辆跑车，太牛了！(Kàn nà liàng pǎochē, tài niú le!)Look at that sports car, it's super cool!
- 他的新车超酷。Tā de xīn chē chāo kù.His new car is super cool.
- 这件衣服超酷！Zhè jiàn yīfu chāo kù!This outfit is super cool!
- 那个电影的情节超酷。Nàge diànyǐng de qíngjié chāo kù.The plot of that movie is super cool.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a new gadget in a store.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你看这个新产品，超酷！Zhìqiáng, nǐ kàn zhège xīn chǎnpǐn, chāo kù!Zhiqiang, look at this new product, it's super cool!
- 志强 Zhiqiang真的吗？它看起来很先进。Zhēn de ma? Tā kàn qǐlái hěn xiānjìn.Really? It looks very advanced.
- 雨婷 Yuting没错，我觉得这个设计超酷。Méi cuò, wǒ juéde zhège shèjì chāo kù.Exactly, I think this design is super cool.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我也这么觉得，很有个性。Wǒ yě zhème juéde, hěn yǒu gèxìng.I think so too, it's very stylish.
