About
The character 苦 features the vegetation radical 艹 at the top, with the bottom component 古 (meaning "old") providing the phonetic element. The botanical radical points to its original meaning: a specific herbaceous plant known for its astringent, unpleasant taste. From this concrete sensation of bitterness, the meaning extended metaphorically to encompass broader experiences of hardship, suffering, and pain. It now represents various forms of physical and emotional misery, as well as the general endurance of laborious or difficult conditions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这药味道很苦。
他工作很辛苦。
学习有时很辛苦。
她苦笑着摇了摇头。
为了生活，他吃了很多苦。
虽然训练很苦，但他从不放弃。
苦难并没有击垮他的意志。
历经多年的苦楚，他终于看到了希望的曙光。