About
The character "苦" is structurally composed of the grass radical "艹" positioned above the phonetic component "古", a formation that directly points to its etymological origins in describing the bitter taste of certain plants. Initially conveying the concrete sensory experience of acrid or pungent flavors found in herbs, its meaning progressively expanded to encompass abstract conditions of hardship, pain, and distress, thereby transferring a physical attribute into a metaphor for life's difficulties. This evolution in usage, from denoting a specific taste to representing general suffering, illustrates a broader linguistic pattern where tangible qualities acquire figurative dimensions while the character's form has remained consistent.
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。