1. Character Basics
2. Pronunciation
3. Meaning
- Bitter (taste)
- Painful, suffering
- Hardship, difficulty
- To endure hardship
4. Common Words
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "苦" can be used as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes something with a bitter taste or something that causes suffering. As a noun, it refers to hardship or suffering.
这种药很苦，但很有效。(Zhè zhǒng yào hěn kǔ, dàn hěn yǒuxiào.) - This medicine is bitter, but very effective.
他过着很痛苦的生活。(Tā guòzhe hěn tòngkǔ de shēnghuó.) - He lives a very painful life.
我们应该忘记过去的苦，珍惜现在的甜。(Wǒmen yīnggāi wàngjì guòqù de kǔ, zhēnxī xiànzài de tián.) - We should forget the hardships of the past and cherish the sweetness of the present.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, "苦" (bitterness/hardship) is often contrasted with "甜" (sweetness/happiness) to represent the duality of life. There are many proverbs and sayings that use this contrast, such as "先苦后甜" (xiān kǔ hòu tián - bitter first, sweet later) which means that one must endure hardship to enjoy happiness later.
The concept of enduring hardship is highly valued in Chinese culture, as it is seen as a path to personal growth and success. This is reflected in the common saying "吃得苦中苦，方为人上人" (chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng wéi rén shàng rén - only by enduring the greatest hardships can one become a truly outstanding person).
7. Example Sentence
学习中文虽然很辛苦，但是很值得。
Although learning Chinese is very hard, it's very worthwhile.
8. Memory Tips
To remember the character "苦", look at its structure: it consists of "艹" (cǎo, grass) and "古" (gǔ, ancient/old). You can imagine an ancient herb or plant that has a bitter taste. The pronunciation "kǔ" rhymes with the English word "coo" but with a falling-rising tone.
Another way to remember it is to associate it with common phrases like "辛苦" (xīnkǔ - hard work) or "痛苦" (tòngkǔ - pain), which are frequently used in daily conversations.