刻苦

• 拼音: kè kǔ
• 汉字拆解: 刻 = 亥 + 刂 (knife); 苦 = 艹 (grass) + 古 (old)

含义

Hardworking; industrious; assiduous. Describes dedicated effort, especially in studies or training.

Emphasizes enduring hardship in pursuit of a goal. Highly valued in Chinese educational culture. Often used to describe students, scholars, athletes, or anyone engaged in rigorous self-improvement.

例句

1. 她刻苦学习，终于考上了理想的大学。
2. 运动员们刻苦训练，为比赛做准备。
3. 他从小就很刻苦，靠自己的努力改变了命运。

用法指南

语境: education, training, self-improvement

语气: admiring

正确说法

• 他学习非常刻苦。(He studies very diligently.)
• 刻苦训练是成功的关键。(Diligent training is the key to success.)

错误说法

• 这个工作很刻苦。(Don't use 刻苦 to describe a job — use 辛苦 or 艰苦; 刻苦 describes the person's attitude, not the work itself)

起源与历史

Compound of 刻 (carve/painstaking) + 苦 (bitter/hard). Together implies enduring hardship with dedication.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal