苦

kǔ
HSK 4
#633 most
frequent character
bitter, hardship, pain, to suffer
adjective
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

苦 has 艹 vegetation as meaning part and 古 gǔ as sound part. It first meant a bitter-tasting plant, common sow thistle. From there it grew to bitter taste, suffering, and difficulties.

苦 as a component in other characters

picture1 character
楛

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Example Sentences

这个药有点苦。
zhègè yào yǒudiǎn kǔ 。
This medicine is a bit bitter.
他经历了很多苦难。
tā jīnglì le hěnduō kǔnàn 。
He has gone through a lot of hardships.
我真想知道你为什么这么苦。
wǒ zhēnxiǎng zhīdào nǐ wéishènmǒ zhème kǔ 。
I really want to know why you are suffering so much.

Words with similar meanings

苦涩kǔsè
bitter and astringent
A more descriptive term that emphasizes the astringent quality along with bitterness.
艰苦jiānkǔ
hard and difficult
This word can describe hardships but is often used in the context of struggle or effort in a serious manner.

Words Starting With 苦

苦尽甘来kǔ jìn gān lái
"bitterness finishes, sweetness begins (idiom); the hard times are over, the good times just beginning"

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Public Lists with 苦

Feelings & Emotions
Vocabulary for happiness, sadness, anger, fear, love, excitement, etc.
HSK 4
All words for the HSK 4 test
Illness & Hospital
Basic medical terminology, symptoms, doctor visits, medications.