A word capturing both the physical bitterness of taste and the heavy, lingering sorrow of human experience.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to a bitter and astringent taste
- Metaphorically describes painful or regretful feelings
- Commonly used in literature to depict complex emotions
Overview
- 1概述：苦涩是一个复合词，“苦”指味觉上的苦味，“涩”指舌头感到收敛、发麻的感觉。两者合用，既可以准确描述未成熟果实或某些药材的口感，也可以抽象化地表达复杂的人生体验。2) 用法模式：在描述事物时，常作定语或补语，如“苦涩的果实”、“味道苦涩”。在描述情感时，常与“笑容”、“回忆”、“泪水”等词搭配，体现一种带有遗憾或压抑的悲伤。3) 常见语境：在日常生活中，常用于评价食物或饮料（如浓茶、咖啡、中药）。在文学创作中，它是描写悲剧色彩、离别情绪或成年人生活压力的常用词汇。4) 近义词辨析：与“苦”相比，“苦涩”多了一层“涩”的质感，意味着苦味中夹杂着难以言表的滞涩感。与“酸楚”相比，“酸楚”侧重于内心的伤感与委屈，而“苦涩”则更侧重于那种因经历磨难而产生的、沉重且难以消解的复杂情绪。
Examples
这药的味道非常苦涩。
everydayThe medicine tastes very bitter and astringent.
他露出了苦涩的笑容，转身离开了。
formalHe showed a bitter smile and turned away.
回想起那段苦涩的岁月，他感慨万千。
informalRecalling those bitter and difficult years, he felt deeply moved.
作品深刻地揭示了底层人民生活的苦涩。
academicThe work deeply reveals the bitterness of the lives of the grassroots people.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
苦涩的滋味
The taste of bitterness
人生苦涩
The bitterness of life
Often Confused With
While both describe pain, '酸楚' focuses on the feeling of being wronged or heartbroken, whereas '苦涩' focuses on a lingering, heavy, and difficult experience.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is versatile, moving easily between physical descriptions of taste and abstract emotional states. It is considered a formal to neutral term, suitable for both daily conversation and literary prose. Avoid using it to describe purely physical pain like a headache or injury.
Common Mistakes
Beginners sometimes use it to describe spicy food, which is incorrect. Remember it specifically refers to bitterness and astringency, not heat. Also, do not confuse it with '痛苦' (pain), which is a stronger, more direct term for suffering.
Tips
Use with abstract nouns
Pair '苦涩' with words like '回忆' (memories) or '人生' (life) to add emotional depth. It elevates your writing from simple descriptions to expressive narratives.
Avoid literal confusion
Ensure the context is clear when using it. If talking about food, it is literal; if talking about life, it is figurative.
Cultural association with tea
In Chinese culture, tea is often described as '苦涩' initially but '回甘' (sweet aftertaste) later. This mirrors the philosophical view of life's hardships leading to wisdom.
Word Origin
The word combines '苦' (bitter taste) and '涩' (astringent, preventing smooth movement or flow). Historically, it captures the sensation of eating unripe persimmons or strong tea leaves.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, the concept of '苦涩' is often tied to the endurance of hardship, which is seen as a necessary precursor to success or maturity.
Memory Tip
Think of a tea that is too strong: it makes your tongue feel dry and bitter. That 'dry + bitter' feeling is exactly what '苦涩' means.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions不，它不仅可以形容味道，更多时候被用来形容人的心情或经历。当形容心情时，它暗示了一种包含无奈和痛苦的复杂感受。
“苦”主要指味觉，而“苦涩”增加了“涩”的感觉，暗示这种痛苦带有滞涩、难以言说或不顺畅的特点。
“苦涩的笑容”通常指一个人虽然在笑，但内心充满了无奈、勉强或伤痛。这种笑往往不是发自内心的快乐，而是为了掩饰或应对困境。
非常常用。它是文学创作中描写悲剧氛围、回忆往事或刻画人物内心挣扎的高频词汇，能增加文字的表现力。
Test Yourself
这杯浓茶喝起来非常___，但他还是坚持喝完了。
浓茶通常带有苦味和涩味，因此用“苦涩”最符合语境。
Score: /1
Summary
A word capturing both the physical bitterness of taste and the heavy, lingering sorrow of human experience.
- Refers to a bitter and astringent taste
- Metaphorically describes painful or regretful feelings
- Commonly used in literature to depict complex emotions
Use with abstract nouns
Pair '苦涩' with words like '回忆' (memories) or '人生' (life) to add emotional depth. It elevates your writing from simple descriptions to expressive narratives.
Avoid literal confusion
Ensure the context is clear when using it. If talking about food, it is literal; if talking about life, it is figurative.
Cultural association with tea
In Chinese culture, tea is often described as '苦涩' initially but '回甘' (sweet aftertaste) later. This mirrors the philosophical view of life's hardships leading to wisdom.
Examples
4 of 4这药的味道非常苦涩。
The medicine tastes very bitter and astringent.
他露出了苦涩的笑容，转身离开了。
He showed a bitter smile and turned away.
回想起那段苦涩的岁月，他感慨万千。
Recalling those bitter and difficult years, he felt deeply moved.
作品深刻地揭示了底层人民生活的苦涩。
The work deeply reveals the bitterness of the lives of the grassroots people.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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