fu2 gung1苦功

Jyutpingfu2 gung1

Yalefú gūng

名詞Uncommon

Definition

Hard work, painstaking effort, or grueling practice that takes a physical and mental toll.

colloquialworkdaily actions

How it's used

Focuses on the intensity and often the suffering involved in achieving mastery, rather than just general hard work. It is almost always paired with the verb 落, as in 落苦功, to describe the act of investing this effort over a long period. Use this when you want to emphasize that the result was earned through grueling, disciplined practice.

Examples

keoi5佢lin6練kam4琴lin6練dou3到gam3咁hou2好，zan1真hai6係lok6落zo2咗m4唔siu2少fu2苦gung1功。

He plays the piano so well, he really put in a lot of hard work.

soeng2想hok6學hou2好gwong2廣dung1東waa2話，nei5你hang2肯m4唔hang2肯lok6落fu2苦gung1功aa4呀？

If you want to learn Cantonese well, are you willing to put in the painstaking effort?

Common phrases

lok6落fu2苦gung1功

to put in painstaking effort

jat1一faan1番fu2苦gung1功

a period of hard work

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with general hard work like 努力. 苦功 implies a level of self-sacrifice or mental and physical endurance that goes beyond standard diligence.