fu2 jyu1苦於苦于
Jyutpingfu2 jyu1
Yalefú yū
Definition
To suffer from, be troubled by, or find something difficult to cope with.
writtenemotionwork
How it's used
Focuses on the internal distress or practical difficulty caused by a specific situation rather than physical pain. It is a formal term that often appears in written reports or news, though it is understood in speech when describing a persistent, nagging problem. It implies that the subject is actively hindered or weighed down by the circumstance mentioned.
Examples
He is troubled by having no money to pay rent, he is worried every day.
Related words
Common phrases
troubled by livelihood
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 辛苦, which describes the feeling of being tired or having a hard time physically. 苦於 requires a specific cause or condition to follow it, whereas 辛苦 can stand alone to describe a general state of hardship.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
