HSK · Level 3
131 words
Chinese word
受苦
Pronunciation
Pinyinshòu kǔ
Meaning
- verbsuffer
Example
孩子们不该再受苦。hái zi men bù gāi zài shòu kǔ
The children should not have to suffer anymore.
More examples
亲身受苦以后，他学会了坚强。qīn shēn shòu kǔ yǐ hòu tā xué huì le jiān qiáng
After suffering firsthand, he learned to be strong.
Core concept
A person is caught in difficult conditions and bears the pain they bring.
Common phrases
亲身受苦qīn shēn shòu kǔ
suffer firsthand
不得不受苦bù dé bú shòu kǔ
have no choice but to suffer
白白受苦bái bái shòu kǔ
suffer in vain
Similar words
承受chéng shòu: Bear a burden, pain, or other pressure.
忍受rěn shòu: Tolerate pain, discomfort, or hardship by holding out against it.
遭受zāo shòu: Experience harm, loss, or misfortune from an adverse event.
吃苦chī kǔ: Willingly face difficult conditions and endure the hardship they bring.
Definition in Chinese
遭受痛苦或困难，表示处于被苦难折磨或承受艰难处境的状态。zāo shòu tòng kǔ huò kùn nán biǎo shì chǔ yú bèi kǔ nàn zhé mó huò chéng shòu jiān nán chǔ jìng de zhuàng tài
Word origin
The word 受苦 (shòukǔ, "suffer") is formed from 受 (shòu, "receive") and 苦 (kǔ, "hardship"), so its structure links enduring hardship with receiving it.
Usage tips
- This word is especially useful when the subject is a person affected by circumstances, such as illness, conflict, or severe living conditions, rather than when describing an ordinary demanding task.
Other meanings
- have a hard timeverb
- go through hardshipverb
Opposites
- 享福xiǎng fúenjoy a happy lifeverb
Related words
- 受苦者shòu kǔ zhěsufferernoun