fu2苦
Jyutpingfu2
Yalefú
Definition
Bitter in taste, such as the flavor of bitter melon or Chinese herbal medicine.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Beyond the literal taste of bitterness, this word is frequently used metaphorically to describe a life of hardship or suffering. It often appears in the phrase 食苦, which implies enduring difficult circumstances or working hard through adversity. When describing food, it is the standard term for anything that lacks sweetness or savory depth, such as dark chocolate or over-steeped tea.
Examples
This bowl of Chinese medicine is so bitter, I cannot drink it.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 辛苦, which describes the state of being tired or having a difficult time. While 苦 refers to the taste or the abstract concept of suffering, 辛苦 is a compound adjective used to describe a person's physical or mental exhaustion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
