() - Suffering, hardship, distress & a variant form of 苦 (kǔ) meaning bitter

Tone 4

kù | 13 strokes | radical:

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Suffering, hardship, distress;

a variant form of 苦 (kǔ) meaning bitter or painful.

Suffering, hardship, distressa variant form of 苦 (kǔ) meaning bitter

Usage highlights

Hardship and sufferingPain and distressBitter hardshipEndure sufferingLife's hardships

Synonyms

  • bitter; hardship; suffering
  • difficulty; hardship
  • pain; suffering

Antonyms

  • happiness; joy
  • sweet; pleasant
  • blessing; good fortune

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He endured great hardship (瘔难).
  • The family went through a period of suffering (瘔楚).
  • This is a bitter experience (瘔涩的经历).

Collocations

  • Hardship and suffering(瘔难)
  • Pain and distress(瘔楚)
  • Bitter hardship(瘔涩)
  • Endure suffering(受瘔)
  • Life's hardships(人生瘔楚)

Idioms

  • Endure all kinds of hardships(含辛茹瘔)
  • Bitter to the extreme(瘔不堪言)
  • Suffering and hardship(瘔难深重)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 瘔 is a variant character for 苦 (kǔ), sharing the same meaning of bitterness and hardship.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, enduring hardship (吃苦) is often seen as a virtue that builds character.
  • The character appears in some historical texts and personal names, though 苦 is the standard form.

FAQ