Overview
The Chinese word '刻苦' (kèkǔ) is a powerful adjective that encapsulates the essence of diligence, perseverance, and a strong work ethic. It literally translates to 'carve bitterness' or 'engrave hardship,' which vividly illustrates the demanding nature of the effort it describes. Unlike more general terms for 'hard work,' '刻苦' specifically implies a conscious and sustained effort to overcome difficulties, endure discomfort, and dedicate oneself wholeheartedly to a task, often in pursuit of a challenging goal.
When someone is described as '刻苦,' it suggests a person who is not afraid of hard work and is willing to put in the extra hours, sacrifice leisure, and push their limits. This often involves a high degree of self-discipline and a clear focus on the objective. It can be applied to various contexts, such as academic pursuits, professional development, athletic training, or even personal self-improvement.
In an academic setting, a '刻苦' student is one who studies diligently, spending long hours on their books, practicing relentlessly, and not shying away from difficult subjects. They might forgo social activities to dedicate more time to their studies, driven by a desire for knowledge and academic excellence. Similarly, in a professional context, a '刻苦' employee is someone who is dedicated to their work, consistently striving for improvement, and willing to take on challenging assignments to advance their skills and contribute to their organization.
Athletes who are '刻苦' train rigorously, pushing their physical and mental boundaries, enduring pain and fatigue to achieve peak performance. Their commitment to their sport goes beyond natural talent, relying heavily on consistent and intensive practice. '刻苦' also carries a connotation of inner strength and resilience. It implies that the individual not only works hard but also has the mental fortitude to persevere through setbacks and failures, learning from them and continuing to strive towards their objectives.
Ultimately, '刻苦' is a highly valued trait in Chinese culture, reflecting the belief that sustained effort and a willingness to overcome adversity are crucial for success and personal growth. It's more than just working hard; it's about the spirit of enduring hardship and the unwavering commitment to a goal, no matter the challenges.
Beispiele
她學習很刻苦。
Describing someone's diligent study habits.She studies very diligently.
運動員們刻苦訓練，為比賽做準備。
Referring to intense and focused training.The athletes trained assiduously, preparing for the competition.
他憑藉刻苦努力，終於取得了成功。
Highlighting the role of hard work in achieving goals.He finally achieved success through diligent effort.
這位科學家一生刻苦鑽研，為人類文明做出了巨大貢獻。
Describing a lifelong commitment to hard work and research.This scientist dedicated his life to diligent research, making immense contributions to human civilization.
雖然條件艱苦，但他仍然刻苦自學，不斷提升自己。
Emphasizing hard work despite challenging circumstances.Although conditions were difficult, he still diligently self-studied and continuously improved himself.
Häufige Kollokationen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
刻苦 (kè kǔ) describes a person's attitude towards work or study, meaning diligent and hardworking. 艰苦 (jiān kǔ) describes the objective conditions or environment, meaning arduous, difficult, or tough.
Grammatikmuster
How to Use It
Nutzungshinweise
When using '刻苦' (kè kǔ), it generally describes someone who is extremely diligent, assiduous, and painstaking in their efforts, often implying a degree of self-discipline and endurance of hardship. It is typically used to commend someone's dedication. For example, '他学习很刻苦' (Tā xuéxí hěn kèkǔ) means 'He studies very diligently.' It can also be applied to a period of time or an action, such as '刻苦钻研' (kèkǔ zuānyán), meaning 'to study diligently and painstakingly.' It's important to note that while positive, '刻苦' can sometimes subtly imply that the effort is strenuous or difficult. It is generally not used for casual or light activities. It emphasizes the intense nature of the effort. The term is widely understood and used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a strong work ethic or commitment to learning or mastering a skill. It can be paired with verbs related to learning, working, or practicing.
Häufige Fehler
One common mistake might be confusing '刻苦' with words that simply mean 'hard' (difficult) like '困难' (kùnnán). While '刻苦' implies difficulty, it specifically emphasizes the diligent effort put into overcoming that difficulty. Another mistake could be using it to describe something that is physically hard, like a hard rock; '刻苦' is exclusively used for describing a person's effort or attitude.
Tips
Usage Tip
刻苦 (kèkǔ) describes a person who works extremely hard and is diligent in their efforts, often implying enduring hardships or putting in great effort for a specific goal. It's typically used to praise someone's dedication to their studies, work, or training.
Common Pitfalls
Do not confuse 刻苦 with simply 'hard' or 'difficult.' While it implies something is hard to achieve, its focus is on the *effort* put in by the individual to overcome those difficulties. It's not generally used to describe a difficult task itself, but rather the hard work applied to it. Also, avoid using it for trivial efforts; it's reserved for significant and sustained hard work.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms include 勤奋 (qínfèn - diligent, industrious), 努力 (nǔlì - hardworking, to strive), 勤劳 (qínláo - hardworking, industrious). Antonyms include 懒惰 (lǎnduò - lazy), 懈怠 (xièdài - slack, negligent), 偷懒 (tōulǎn - to loaf on the job, to be lazy).
Wortherkunft
The character '刻' (kè) is a phono-semantic compound. The left component '亥' (hài) is the phonetic element, pronounced similarly to 'kè' in Old Chinese, and also suggests 'pig' or 'tusk'. The right component '刀' (dāo) is the radical and semantic element, meaning 'knife' or 'blade'. This combination strongly suggests the action of carving or incising with a knife, which is its primary meaning. Over time, '刻' also developed the meaning of 'a short period of time' or 'a moment,' possibly stemming from the idea of marking time by carving notches or from the short, precise actions of carving. In ancient China, '刻' was also used as a unit of time, representing one-hundredth of a day. The term '刻苦' (kèkǔ) combines '刻' with '苦' (kǔ), meaning 'bitter' or 'hardship'. Therefore, '刻苦' literally means 'to carve hardship' or 'to engrave hardship,' metaphorically representing the dedication and effort put into enduring difficulties and working diligently. This evokes the image of someone meticulously and persistently applying themselves to a task, even when it is arduous. The etymology emphasizes the arduous and deliberate nature of being hardworking and assiduous, suggesting a deep, almost painful, commitment to a goal.
Kultureller Kontext
The word '刻苦' (kè kǔ) in Chinese carries strong cultural connotations of diligence, perseverance, and dedication, especially in the context of learning or work. It is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese values that emphasize hard work as a path to success and self-improvement. Historically, '刻苦' was often associated with scholars who would study relentlessly to pass imperial examinations, or with apprentices who would endure hardship to master a craft. This ethos is still highly valued in contemporary Chinese society, where parents often encourage their children to be '刻苦' in their studies, and employees are praised for their '刻苦' attitude at work. It signifies a willingness to endure difficulties and expend great effort to achieve a goal, reflecting a cultural belief that true accomplishment comes from sustained hard work rather than innate talent alone. The term often evokes respect and admiration for the individual demonstrating such qualities.
Merkhilfe
The character '刻' (kè) means 'carve' or 'engrave,' and '苦' (kǔ) means 'hardship' or 'bitter.' Imagine someone carving diligently, enduring hardship to perfect their work. This imagery can help you remember '刻苦' as hardworking or assiduous.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenThe Chinese word '刻苦' (kè kǔ) describes someone who is hardworking, assiduous, and painstaking in their efforts. It implies a dedication to a task or study that often involves enduring hardships or making significant sacrifices. This term is typically used to commend someone's diligence and perseverance in pursuing their goals, highlighting a strong work ethic and a commitment to overcoming difficulties.
'刻苦' can be used as an adjective or an adverb. For example, you might say '他学习很刻苦' (tā xuéxí hěn kèkǔ), meaning 'He studies very diligently/hard.' Or, '刻苦的训练让他成为了优秀的运动员' (kèkǔ de xùnliàn ràng tā chéngwéi le yōuxiù de yùndòngyuán), which translates to 'Painstaking training made him an excellent athlete.' It emphasizes the effort and seriousness applied to an activity.
Certainly! Some synonyms for '刻苦' include '勤奋' (qínfèn), which also means diligent or hardworking, and '努力' (nǔlì), meaning to strive or exert oneself. As for antonyms, words like '懒惰' (lǎnduò), meaning lazy, or '懈怠' (xièdài), meaning slack or negligent, would be appropriate as they represent a lack of diligence and effort.
In Chinese culture, '刻苦' is a highly valued trait. It is often associated with the pursuit of academic excellence, professional success, and personal development. The concept of '刻苦耐劳' (kèkǔ nàiláo), which combines '刻苦' with '耐劳' (enduring hardship), is a traditional virtue emphasizing resilience and the ability to work hard under difficult conditions. This value is deeply ingrained and plays a significant role in educational and societal expectations.
Teste dich selbst
他学习很______, 经常熬夜。
要取得好成绩，必须____学习。
她____钻研业务，很快就成了骨干。
Ergebnis: /3
Usage Tip
刻苦 (kèkǔ) describes a person who works extremely hard and is diligent in their efforts, often implying enduring hardships or putting in great effort for a specific goal. It's typically used to praise someone's dedication to their studies, work, or training.
Common Pitfalls
Do not confuse 刻苦 with simply 'hard' or 'difficult.' While it implies something is hard to achieve, its focus is on the *effort* put in by the individual to overcome those difficulties. It's not generally used to describe a difficult task itself, but rather the hard work applied to it. Also, avoid using it for trivial efforts; it's reserved for significant and sustained hard work.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms include 勤奋 (qínfèn - diligent, industrious), 努力 (nǔlì - hardworking, to strive), 勤劳 (qínláo - hardworking, industrious). Antonyms include 懒惰 (lǎnduò - lazy), 懈怠 (xièdài - slack, negligent), 偷懒 (tōulǎn - to loaf on the job, to be lazy).
Beispiele
5 von 5她學習很刻苦。
She studies very diligently.
運動員們刻苦訓練，為比賽做準備。
The athletes trained assiduously, preparing for the competition.
他憑藉刻苦努力，終於取得了成功。
He finally achieved success through diligent effort.
這位科學家一生刻苦鑽研，為人類文明做出了巨大貢獻。
This scientist dedicated his life to diligent research, making immense contributions to human civilization.
雖然條件艱苦，但他仍然刻苦自學，不斷提升自己。
Although conditions were difficult, he still diligently self-studied and continuously improved himself.
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