Meanings of 刻苦
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Podcast: 刻苦
Podcast: 刻苦
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AI Study Notes for 刻苦
勤奋 (qín fèn) implies diligence and hard work but may not carry the same connotation of enduring hardship as 刻苦.
Learners often confuse 刻苦 with similar terms like 勤奋 (qín fèn), which also means hardworking but lacks the nuance of enduring hardship. 刻苦 is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as academic discussions or motivational speeches. Pay attention to the tone: the fourth tone (kè) should be pronounced strongly, while the third tone (kǔ) should be softer.
As an HSK Level 5 word, 刻苦 is related to other terms describing work ethic and dedication, such as 努力 (nǔ lì) meaning 'to strive' and 精进 (jīng jìn) meaning 'to improve oneself.' Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe personal experiences or achievements.
Learners often mistakenly use 刻苦 to describe someone who is simply busy, without the nuance of effort and hardship. For example, saying '他工作很忙，所以他是刻苦的' (He's busy at work, so he is hardworking) is incorrect; it should emphasize the effort, like '他刻苦工作，尽管很忙' (He works hard, despite being busy).
Pronunciation of 刻苦
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Component Characters
How to say hardworking in Chinese
“hardworking” in Chinese is刻苦
刻苦 (kè kǔ) refers to a diligent and hardworking attitude, often implying the willingness to endure hardships to achieve a goal. This term is commonly used in academic and professional contexts to describe someone who puts in significant effort and perseverance, especially when facing challenges.
When to use 刻苦
Learners often confuse 刻苦 with similar terms like 勤奋 (qín fèn), which also means hardworking but lacks the nuance of enduring hardship. 刻苦 is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as academic discussions or motivational speeches. Pay attention to the tone: the fourth tone (kè) should be pronounced strongly, while the third tone (kǔ) should be softer.
刻苦 or something close to it
勤奋 (qín fèn) implies diligence and hard work but may not carry the same connotation of enduring hardship as 刻苦.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 刻苦 to describe someone who is simply busy, without the nuance of effort and hardship. For example, saying '他工作很忙，所以他是刻苦的' (He's busy at work, so he is hardworking) is incorrect; it should emphasize the effort, like '他刻苦工作，尽管很忙' (He works hard, despite being busy).
Write 刻苦
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Grammar Patterns of 刻苦
刻苦 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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他们一生____工作, 不浪费一分一秒.
They worked hard all their lives, wasting not a single moment.
Example Sentences for 刻苦 (2)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 刻苦
You can say '他非常刻苦，学习了很多小时' (He is very hardworking and studied for many hours).
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