Quick answer
苦 can describe a bitter taste or a difficult experience. In 辛苦, it contributes to a word about hard work or trouble taken. The full expression 辛苦了 is commonly used to acknowledge someone else's effort.
Pinyin and pronunciation
kǔ
What the character contributes
The emotional force depends on the whole word: bitter food, a hard task, and a warm acknowledgment are different contexts.
Examples in context
这杯茶有点苦。
Zhè bēi chá yǒudiǎn kǔ.
This tea is a little bitter.
报告改完了，辛苦了。
Bàogào gǎi wán le, xīnkǔ le.
The report is finished. Thanks for your hard work.
Common mistakes
- Do not assume 辛苦了 means the person literally tastes something bitter.
- Use the full word 辛苦 when discussing effort; 苦 alone often has other senses.
Related expressions
Sources and editorial note
These learning notes and examples are original project content. Compare dictionary senses with CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0).