何苦

• Pinyin: hé kǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 何 = 亻+ 可 — interrogative; 苦 = 艹 (grass radical) + 古 (ancient/old) — bitterness/hardship

Meaning

Why bother suffering; why put yourself through this. Expresses that the hardship or trouble someone endures is unnecessary.

A rhetorical expression used to persuade someone to stop an action that causes them unnecessary grief, hardship, or trouble. Often carries a tone of sympathy or mild exasperation. Similar in spirit to 'it's not worth it' or 'why make things hard for yourself.' Frequently followed by a clause explaining the futility of the action.

Examples

1. 他已经离开了，你再苦苦等待又何苦呢，不如放下重新出发。 He’s already gone—why put yourself through all this waiting? Let it go and start over.
2. 两人都有错，何苦非要分出个对错来，只会伤了彼此的感情。 You both made mistakes—why insist on deciding who’s right and who’s wrong? You’ll only hurt each other.
3. 你自己做错了事不肯承认，结果搞得里外不是人，又何苦来哉。 You made a mistake but refused to admit it, and now you’ve made yourself unwelcome on all sides—why put yourself through that?

Usage Guide

Context: persuasion, consolation, conversation, interpersonal

Tone: sympathetic

Do Say

• 这种人根本不值得你费心，又何苦为他伤心落泪。(Someone like that simply isn't worth your energy — why put yourself through heartbreak for him?)
• 大家都是成年人，何苦在这种小事上互不相让，闹得不愉快。(We are all adults — why make each other suffer over something so trivial and end up on bad terms?)

Don't Say

• 何苦 in formal written reports or academic papers — it is colloquial; use 没有必要 or 不必 in formal or written contexts

Origin & History

何 (why; for what reason) + 苦 (bitter; suffering; hardship)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal