辛苦

• Pinyin: xīn kǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 辛 = pictograph of a tattooing needle, representing punishment/bitterness; 苦 = 艹 (grass) + 古 (old), meaning bitter

Meaning

Hard; toilsome; laborious; to work hard. Describes strenuous effort or the state of being tired from work.

Used as an adjective for hard work, as a verb for enduring hardship, and commonly as a polite expression to acknowledge someone's efforts (辛苦了 - thank you for your hard work). Very common in daily interactions and workplace settings.

Examples

1. 你辛苦了，快坐下休息一会儿。 You've worked hard, please sit down and rest for a while.
2. 做这份工作虽然辛苦，但很有意义。 Although this job is hard, it's very meaningful.
3. 她一个人带孩子，真的很辛苦。 She raises the child alone, it's really tough.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, gratitude

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 辛苦你跑一趟。(Thank you for making the trip.)
• 这几天大家都辛苦了。(Everyone has worked hard these past few days.)

Don't Say

• 我很辛苦工作 (Word order — say 我工作很辛苦 or 我辛苦地工作)

Origin & History

Compound of 辛 (bitter, laborious) and 苦 (bitter, suffering), both emphasizing hardship.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal