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刻苦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
刻苦
kèkǔ
hardworking
HSK 7, v, 16 strokes, rank #14815, Very Hard
刻苦
kèkǔ
assiduous
HSK 7, v, 16 strokes, rank #14815, Very Hard
kèkǔ(ke4ku3)ke ku T4
1hardworking
2assiduous
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March 24, 2026
刻苦kèkǔ(ke4ku3)
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.
Strokes16Frequency#14815DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of hard work and perseverance is highly valued, often linked to success in education and career. The phrase 刻苦学习 (kè kǔ xué xí) is frequently used to encourage students to study diligently, reflecting the cultural emphasis on academic achievement.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'carving knife' (刻) cutting through 'hard wood' (苦) to shape something beautiful. This visual helps you remember that 刻苦 means to work hard and endure difficulties, as if you’re carving out your success from tough material.
Meanings of 刻苦
kèkǔ(ke4ku3)
1hardworking
2assiduous
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 刻苦
刻苦Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#14815Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 刻苦
Podcast: 刻苦
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AI study notes for 刻苦
Quick Contrast
勤奋 (qín fèn) implies diligence and hard work but may not carry the same connotation of enduring hardship as 刻苦.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Common Mistakes
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).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 刻苦
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Knowing 刻苦 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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
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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们一生____工作, 不浪费一分一秒.
They worked hard all their lives, wasting not a single moment.
