辛苦 en 30 secondes
- 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is a Chinese word meaning 'hard' or 'laborious,' used to describe tasks that require significant effort and endurance.
- It is most famously used in the polite phrase '你辛苦了' (Nǐ xīnkǔ le) to thank someone for their hard work or trouble.
- Culturally, it reflects the high value placed on perseverance and acknowledging the physical and mental toll of labor on others.
- It is distinct from '累' (tired), which describes a feeling, whereas '辛苦' describes the nature of the work or the act of working hard.
The Chinese term 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is a cornerstone of Chinese social etiquette and emotional intelligence. At its most basic level, it functions as an adjective meaning 'laborious,' 'hard,' or 'toilsome.' However, its cultural weight extends far beyond a simple description of effort. It encapsulates a deep-seated respect for the endurance of hardship. In Chinese society, acknowledging someone's xīnkǔ is not just about stating a fact; it is a vital social lubricant that validates the person's physical and mental exertion.
- Literal Meaning
- The character 辛 (xīn) originally referred to a pungent, spicy taste or the suffering of a prisoner, while 苦 (kǔ) means bitter. Together, they describe a life or a task that tastes of bitterness and pungency—metaphors for extreme difficulty and exhaustion.
- Social Function
- It is most frequently used in the phrase '你辛苦了' (Nǐ xīnkǔ le), which translates roughly to 'You have worked hard' or 'Thank you for your trouble.' It is the standard way to thank a delivery driver, a colleague who finished a report, or a parent who cooked dinner.
为了供孩子上学，他每天工作十几个小时，非常辛苦。
— In order to support his child's education, he works over ten hours every day; it is very laborious.
When you use 辛苦, you are performing an act of empathy. You are saying, 'I see the effort you put in, and I recognize that it wasn't easy.' This is why it is used so frequently in professional settings. If a subordinate completes a difficult task, a manager will say '辛苦了' to show appreciation. If a host prepares a massive feast for guests, the guests will invariably say '辛苦了' before even tasting the food. It shifts the focus from the result of the work to the process and the person behind it.
快递员把包裹送到五楼，我赶紧说了一声：“辛苦了！”
- Environmental Context
- You will hear this in hospitals (to doctors), schools (to teachers), and construction sites. It is a word that levels the social playing field by acknowledging the universal nature of hard work.
Using 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) correctly requires understanding its flexibility as an adjective, a verb-like greeting, and a noun in specific compounds. Its most common grammatical structure is as a predicative adjective following an intensifier like '很' (hěn - very) or '太' (tài - too).
农民伯伯在烈日下种地，真是太辛苦了。
— The farmers planting in the scorching sun are truly working too hard.
One of the most powerful ways to use this word is as a polite request. By adding it before a verb, you are acknowledging that the favor you are asking will cause the other person trouble. For example, '辛苦你帮我拿一下' (Xīnkǔ nǐ bāng wǒ ná yīxià) means 'Sorry to trouble you to hold this for me.' This 'pre-emptive' acknowledgment of effort is considered very polite in Chinese culture.
- Structure 1: Subject + 很/非常 + 辛苦
- Example: 他的工作非常辛苦。(His work is very laborious.) Here, it describes the nature of the task or the state of the person.
- Structure 2: 辛苦 + 人 + 了
- Example: 辛苦你了。(You've worked hard.) This is the idiomatic expression of gratitude. The '了' indicates a change of state or completion of the effort.
You can also use it to describe a period of time. '这一年你辛苦了' (This year you have worked hard). In business emails, it is common to end with '大家辛苦了' (Everyone has worked hard) after a project concludes. It acts as a collective pat on the back.
虽然路途辛苦，但看到美景的那一刻，一切都值得了。
- Negative Form
- To say something is not hard, you say '不辛苦' (bù xīnkǔ). This is the standard polite response when someone tells you '辛苦了'. It's like saying 'It was no trouble at all.'
In the bustling streets of Beijing or the quiet offices of Shanghai, 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is ubiquitous. It is the soundtrack of the Chinese service industry and the domestic sphere alike. If you are living in China, you will hear it from the moment you order breakfast to the moment you take a taxi home at night.
老师对学生们说：“这段时间准备考试，大家辛苦了。”
— The teacher said to the students: 'Everyone has worked hard preparing for the exams during this time.'
In a professional context, '辛苦了' is the 'Good job' of the Chinese world. When a meeting ends, the leader might say '大家辛苦了' as a sign of dismissal and appreciation. If you are a foreigner working in China, saying this to your Chinese colleagues will immediately signal your cultural integration and respect for their diligence.
- Service Industry
- When a waiter brings a heavy tray or a cleaner finishes a shift, customers often mutter '辛苦了.' It acknowledges the physical toll of the service sector.
- Family Life
- Children are taught to say '爸爸妈妈辛苦了' (Mom and Dad, you've worked hard) to show filial piety. It is a way of recognizing the sacrifices parents make for the family.
看到环卫工人在扫雪，路人轻声说：“师傅，您辛苦了。”
You also hear it in television dramas, especially during emotional reunions. A wife might say to a husband returning from a long business trip, '你辛苦了,' acknowledging not just the work, but the emotional drain of being away. It is a word that carries the weight of shared struggle, making it one of the most 'human' words in the Chinese language.
While 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is a versatile word, English speakers often misapply it by confusing it with 'tired' (累 - lèi) or 'difficult' (难 - nán). Understanding these distinctions is crucial for sounding natural.
- Confusing 辛苦 with 累 (lèi)
- '累' describes the feeling of being tired. '辛苦' describes the nature of the work that makes you tired. You can say '我很累' (I am tired), but saying '我很辛苦' often implies 'My life/work is hard and full of toil' rather than just 'I need a nap.'
- Confusing 辛苦 with 难 (nán)
- '难' means difficult in terms of complexity (like a math problem). '辛苦' means difficult in terms of the effort and endurance required. Solving a Rubik's cube is '难', but carrying bricks all day is '辛苦'.
Incorrect: 这个数学题很辛苦。(This math problem is very 'laborious' - sounds strange).
Correct: 学习数学很辛苦。(Studying math is very laborious/hard work).
Another mistake is the response. If someone says '辛苦了' to you, do not just say '谢谢' (Thank you). While not wrong, the more culturally authentic response is '不辛苦' (Not hard) or '应该的' (It's what I should do). This demonstrates humility, a core value in Chinese social interaction.
Mistake: Using '辛苦' to mean 'painful' (as in physical pain). Use '疼' (téng) for physical pain instead.
Chinese has a rich vocabulary for describing effort and hardship. While 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is the most common, other words offer different shades of meaning depending on whether you want to emphasize diligence, extreme suffering, or simple fatigue.
- 勤奋 (qínfèn) vs. 辛苦
- '勤奋' means diligent or hardworking as a personality trait. '辛苦' is the state of the work itself. You are '勤奋' because you work '辛苦'.
- 艰辛 (jiānxīn) vs. 辛苦
- '艰辛' is a much stronger, more formal word. It often refers to lifelong struggles or historical hardships. '生活艰辛' (Life is full of hardships) is more dramatic than '工作辛苦'.
- 劳累 (láolèi) vs. 辛苦
- '劳累' focuses on the physical exhaustion resulting from labor. It is a state of being 'worn out.' '辛苦' is more about the process of putting in the effort.
Comparison: 他很勤奋 (He is diligent). 他工作很辛苦 (He works hard). 他感到很劳累 (He feels exhausted).
In very formal writing, you might see '辛劳' (xīnláo), which is similar to '辛苦' but emphasizes the 'labor' aspect even more. In slang, young people might use '累成狗' (lèi chéng gǒu - tired as a dog) to express extreme fatigue, but they would still use '辛苦了' to thank someone else.
创业的道路充满了艰辛，但他从不放弃。
How Formal Is It?
Le savais-tu ?
In ancient China, 辛 was also used to describe the taste of ginger or garlic. Today, we still use it to mean 'spicy' in some contexts, but '辛苦' is almost exclusively about labor.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing 'xin' as 'shin' (it's a sharper 's' sound).
- Failing to dip the voice for the 3rd tone in 'ku'.
Niveau de difficulté
The characters are common but 辛 can be confused with 幸 (luck).
Writing 辛 and 苦 requires attention to stroke order, especially the bottom of 辛.
Easy to pronounce once the tones are mastered.
Very easy to recognize because it is used so frequently.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Using '了' for acknowledgment
辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le)
Adjectives as predicates
工作很辛苦 (Gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ)
The 'Sui ran... dan shi' structure
虽然辛苦，但是值得。
Reduplication for emphasis
辛辛苦苦 (Xīnxīn-kǔkǔ - very laboriously)
Using 'De' for adverbs
辛苦地工作 (Xīnkǔ de gōngzuò)
Exemples par niveau
辛苦了！
You've worked hard!
Standard phrase to thank someone for their effort.
爸爸辛苦了。
Dad worked hard.
Subject + 辛苦 + 了.
老师，您辛苦了。
Teacher, you've worked hard.
Use '您' (nín) for respect.
不辛苦。
It's not hard / No trouble.
The standard polite response to '辛苦了'.
大家辛苦了。
Everyone worked hard.
'大家' means everyone.
你辛苦吗？
Are you working hard?
Simple question with '吗'.
他不辛苦。
He is not working hard.
Negative form with '不'.
真的很辛苦。
Really very hard work.
'真的' adds emphasis.
这份工作很辛苦。
This job is very laborious.
Adjective describing a noun.
他每天工作很辛苦。
He works very hard every day.
Describing a routine.
学习汉语很辛苦，但是很有趣。
Learning Chinese is hard work, but very interesting.
Contrasting two adjectives.
妈妈做饭很辛苦。
Mom works hard cooking meals.
Subject + Verb + Adjective.
别太辛苦了。
Don't work too hard.
'别...了' means 'Don't...'
走这段路很辛苦。
Walking this path is very tiring.
Describing a physical activity.
辛苦你帮我买票。
Sorry to trouble you to buy the ticket for me.
Using 辛苦 as a polite request prefix.
虽然辛苦，但他很开心。
Although it's hard work, he is very happy.
'虽然...但是...' structure.
为了我们的家，他一直很辛苦。
For our home, he has always worked very hard.
'为了' indicates purpose.
辛苦了一整天，他想早点休息。
After working hard all day, he wants to rest early.
Verb phrase as a reason.
真是辛苦你了，帮我照顾孩子。
It's really been a lot of trouble for you, helping me look after the kids.
Acknowledgment of a specific favor.
这种辛苦是值得的。
This kind of hard work is worth it.
辛苦 used as a noun.
他不怕辛苦，只想把事情做好。
He is not afraid of hard work; he just wants to do things well.
'不怕' + 辛苦.
辛苦你跑这一趟了。
I'm sorry to have put you to the trouble of coming here.
Common polite social phrase.
只要不辛苦，什么都行。
As long as it's not too much trouble, anything is fine.
'只要...就/都...' structure.
他忍受着工作的辛苦。
He is enduring the hardships of work.
'忍受' (endure) + 辛苦.
他把孩子辛苦养大。
He laboriously raised the child.
辛苦 used as an adverb.
这几年的辛苦终于有了回报。
The hard work of these past few years has finally paid off.
Noun usage in a subject position.
她不辞辛苦地为社区服务。
She serves the community without sparing any effort.
'不辞辛苦' is a formal set phrase.
无论多辛苦，他都要坚持下去。
No matter how hard it is, he must persevere.
'无论...都...' structure.
这种辛苦外人是很难理解的。
This kind of hardship is hard for outsiders to understand.
Abstract usage of hardship.
辛苦钻研多年，他终于发明了新技术。
After years of painstaking research, he finally invented a new technology.
Describing intellectual labor.
他习惯了这种辛苦的生活。
He has become accustomed to this laborious life.
'习惯了' + noun phrase.
我们不能忘记前辈们的辛苦。
We cannot forget the hard work of our predecessors.
Historical/Collective acknowledgment.
创业初期的辛苦，只有他自己知道。
Only he knows the hardships of the early stages of starting a business.
Emphasis on personal experience.
他不计个人辛苦，全身心投入到工作中。
He disregards his own hardship and throws himself heart and soul into his work.
'不计' means to not count or disregard.
这篇文章写出了底层劳动者的辛苦。
This article depicts the hardships of bottom-level laborers.
Describing literary themes.
岁月在他脸上留下了辛苦的痕迹。
Years have left traces of hard work on his face.
Metaphorical usage.
这种辛苦并非单纯的体力消耗。
This kind of hardship is not merely physical exhaustion.
'并非' is a formal 'is not'.
他以一种近乎自虐的辛苦在磨练自己。
He is honing himself with a level of hardship that is almost self-torture.
Describing intense self-discipline.
与其说这是辛苦，不如说这是磨难。
Rather than calling it hard work, it's better to call it a trial.
'与其说...不如说...' comparison.
辛苦遭逢起一经，干戈寥落四周星。
My life has been full of hardships since I mastered the classics.
Quoting classical poetry (Wen Tianxiang).
他那番辛苦经营，最终化为乌有。
All his painstaking efforts in management eventually came to nothing.
'化为乌有' means to vanish into thin air.
这种辛苦中蕴含着一种悲剧性的力量。
Within this hardship lies a tragic power.
Philosophical analysis.
劳苦大众的辛苦是历史进步的基石。
The hard work of the laboring masses is the cornerstone of historical progress.
Sociopolitical context.
他的一生，是辛苦奋斗的一生。
His life was a life of laborious struggle.
Summarizing a lifetime.
苦心孤诣的辛苦，终究会得到后人的认可。
The hardship of working with painstaking care will eventually be recognized by posterity.
'苦心孤诣' is a high-level idiom.
这种辛苦已然超越了生理的极限。
This hardship has already surpassed physiological limits.
'已然' is a formal 'already'.
他在文字中构建了一个充满辛苦与温情的宇宙。
In his writing, he constructed a universe full of hardship and warmth.
Abstract literary critique.
所谓辛苦，不过是通往卓越的必经之路。
The so-called hardship is but the necessary path to excellence.
'所谓...不过是...' structure.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— The most common way to say 'You've worked hard' or 'Thank you'.
大家辛苦了，早点回家吧。
— Used to express deep sympathy for someone's hard work.
你一个人带两个孩子，太辛苦了。
— To not mind the hardship; to work tirelessly.
志愿者们不辞辛苦地工作。
— To go through untold hardships.
他历尽千辛万苦才找到家。
— A small tip or payment for someone's trouble.
这是给你的辛苦费。
— A life destined for hard work.
我就是个辛苦命。
— Used before asking a favor to acknowledge the trouble.
辛苦你帮我查一下资料。
— A bit hard or tiring.
今天的训练有点辛苦。
— The hard work was not in vain.
考试过了，没白辛苦。
— Why bother with the hard work?
你何必这么辛苦呢？
Souvent confondu avec
'Lèi' is the feeling of tiredness; 'Xīnkǔ' is the nature of the work.
'Nán' is difficulty of understanding; 'Xīnkǔ' is difficulty of effort.
'Xìng' (luck) looks similar to 'Xīn' but has a different meaning.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To suffer innumerable hardships.
他们历经千辛万苦，终于到达了目的地。
Common— To endure all kinds of hardships (often used for raising children).
母亲含辛茹苦地把我们抚养成人。
Formal— To have experienced every kind of hardship.
他的一生备尝艰辛，令人敬佩。
Literary— To not spare oneself any effort.
他不辞辛苦，跑遍了全城寻找证据。
Written— To work hard and diligently (like a farmer).
只有辛勤耕耘，才能有丰硕的收获。
Metaphorical— To work one's heart out; painstaking effort.
他呕心沥血地完成了这部巨著。
Literary— To forget to eat and sleep due to hard work.
为了这个项目，他简直废寝忘食。
Common— To work hard without complaint.
她在岗位上任劳任怨，深受好评。
Praising— To work from dawn to dusk (lit. draped in stars and wearing the moon).
他披星戴月地赶路，终于准时到达。
Poetic— To have gone through the many changes and hardships of life.
这位老人的脸上写满了历尽沧桑。
LiteraryFacile à confondre
Both involve labor and fatigue.
劳累 emphasizes the physical state of being worn out, while 辛苦 emphasizes the process and the effort.
由于长途奔波，他显得十分劳累。
Both mean hardship.
艰辛 is much more formal and usually refers to life struggles or long-term difficulties.
他的一生充满了艰辛。
Standard word.
Used for both description and social etiquette.
你辛苦了。
Both start with 'jiān' or relate to 'kǔ'.
艰苦 usually describes conditions (like a hard bed or a poor village), while 辛苦 describes the labor.
这里的环境很艰苦。
Both use 'xīn'.
辛勤 is always positive and refers to being industrious/diligent.
辛勤的工作换来了丰收。
Structures de phrases
Subject + 辛苦了。
你辛苦了。
Subject + 很/太 + 辛苦。
他的工作很辛苦。
辛苦 + Person + Verb + Object。
辛苦你帮我买书。
虽然...但是...辛苦...
虽然辛苦，但是我喜欢。
Noun + 的 + 辛苦
养育孩子的辛苦。
不辞辛苦地 + Verb
他不辞辛苦地工作。
...是...的辛苦
这是我多年钻研的辛苦。
Idiom (e.g., 含辛茹苦)
她含辛茹苦养大孩子。
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Comment l'utiliser
Extremely high in daily conversation and workplace communication.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a prisoner (辛) eating a bitter plant (苦) while working in the fields. That is 'xīnkǔ'.
Association visuelle
A picture of a farmer sweating under a hot sun with a heavy plow.
Word Web
Défi
Try to say '辛苦了' to at least three people today who provide you with a service (e.g., a delivery person, a barista, or a cleaner).
Origine du mot
The character 辛 (xīn) was originally a pictograph of a knife used for tattooing criminals, symbolizing pain. 苦 (kǔ) represents a bitter herb. Combined, they describe the 'bitter taste' of pain and labor.
Sens originel : To experience bitterness and suffering.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic.Contexte culturel
Be careful not to say '辛苦了' to someone who is much higher in status than you in a way that sounds condescending, though it is generally safe if said with genuine respect.
English speakers often say 'Thank you' or 'Good job,' but 'You worked hard' is less common as a greeting. In Chinese, '辛苦了' is more frequent and socially expected.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
At a restaurant
- 服务员，辛苦了。
- 菜很好吃，辛苦了。
- 麻烦你了，辛苦了。
- 真不好意思，辛苦了。
At the office
- 这个项目大家辛苦了。
- 辛苦你加班。
- 老板，您辛苦了。
- 辛苦你把报告发给我。
With family
- 妈妈，您做饭辛苦了。
- 爸爸，您工作辛苦了。
- 为了这个家，你太辛苦了。
- 老婆辛苦了。
Traveling
- 司机师傅，辛苦了。
- 导游，辛苦了。
- 搬行李辛苦了。
- 一路辛苦。
Studying
- 学习很辛苦。
- 辛苦了一晚上。
- 不辞辛苦地复习。
- 考试辛苦了。
Amorces de conversation
"你觉得这份工作辛苦吗？ (Do you think this job is hard?)"
"你每天这么忙，一定很辛苦吧？ (You are so busy every day, it must be hard work, right?)"
"为了准备考试，你辛苦了多久？ (How long have you been working hard to prepare for the exam?)"
"如果你觉得辛苦，我们就休息一下。 (If you feel it's too much, let's take a break.)"
"你认为哪种职业最辛苦？ (Which profession do you think is the most laborious?)"
Sujets d'écriture
写一写你生活中最辛苦的一天。 (Write about the most laborious day in your life.)
你觉得辛苦工作是为了什么？ (What do you think is the purpose of working hard?)
描述一个你认为工作非常辛苦的人。 (Describe a person who you think works very hard.)
如果没有辛苦，生活会是什么样？ (What would life be like without hard work?)
谈谈你对“辛苦了”这句话的理解。 (Talk about your understanding of the phrase 'Xinkule'.)
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsNot exactly. While it's used to show gratitude, it specifically thanks someone for their *effort*. Use '谢谢' for gifts or compliments, and '辛苦了' for tasks or favors.
Yes, but it's more common to say '您辛苦了' (Nín xīnkǔ le) to show respect. However, usually, bosses say it to employees more often.
If you say '我累了' (Wǒ lèi le), you mean 'I am tired and want to sleep.' If you say '我工作很辛苦' (Wǒ gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ), you mean 'My work is demanding and hard.'
The most common and polite response is '不辛苦' (Bù xīnkǔ), meaning 'It's no trouble.' You can also say '没事' (Méishì - It's nothing).
Yes. For example, '这一年的辛苦没有白费' (The hard work of this year was not in vain).
Yes, it is used throughout the Chinese-speaking world with the same meaning.
Absolutely. Studying for an exam or writing a book is definitely considered '辛苦'.
Summary
The word 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is more than just 'hard work'; it is a vital social tool for showing empathy and respect. Use '辛苦了' to thank anyone providing a service or completing a task. Example: '辛苦你了，帮我搬家。' (Thank you for the hard work helping me move.)
- 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) is a Chinese word meaning 'hard' or 'laborious,' used to describe tasks that require significant effort and endurance.
- It is most famously used in the polite phrase '你辛苦了' (Nǐ xīnkǔ le) to thank someone for their hard work or trouble.
- Culturally, it reflects the high value placed on perseverance and acknowledging the physical and mental toll of labor on others.
- It is distinct from '累' (tired), which describes a feeling, whereas '辛苦' describes the nature of the work or the act of working hard.
Contenu associé
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依照
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准确地
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做到
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应变
B2Adaptive; capable of dealing with emergencies.
行政
A2L'administration; la gestion des affaires publiques ou privées.
过后
A2Afterwards; at a later or subsequent time.
赞同
A2Approuver, cautionner ; être d'accord avec ou soutenir une idée, une proposition ou une action.
