fu2 sam1苦心
Jyutpingfu2 sam1
Yalefú sām
Definition
Painstaking effort; trouble taken with hard work and dedication.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often implies a sense of sacrifice or emotional investment that is not immediately obvious to others. It is frequently used when someone wants to highlight that their actions were driven by good intentions or deep concern, even if the result was not perfect. The phrase 苦心經營 is a very common collocation used to describe the long-term, difficult process of building up a business or a relationship.
Measure word
faan1番fānExamples
They put so much painstaking effort into nurturing you, don't let them down.
Related words
Common phrases
painstakingly build up
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 辛苦, which refers to physical or mental exhaustion from hard work. 苦心 focuses on the mental effort and care invested in a specific goal, whereas 辛苦 describes the feeling of being tired or burdened.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
