hak1 fu2刻苦

Jyutpinghak1 fu2

Yalehāk fú

形容詞

Definition

Assiduous, painstaking, and hardworking.

neutralworkdescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on the endurance of hardship while maintaining a high level of effort or discipline. It is often used to describe someone who is self-disciplined and willing to sacrifice comfort to achieve a goal. Unlike just being busy, it carries a sense of moral virtue or commendable persistence.

Examples

keoi5佢duk6讀syu1書hou2好haak1刻fu2苦，seng4成jat6日wan1溫syu1書wan1溫dou3到hou2好je6夜。

He studies very assiduously and often revises until very late.

Common phrases

haak1刻fu2苦noi6耐lou4勞

hardworking and enduring

haak1刻fu2苦hok6學zaap6習

to study assiduously

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 辛苦, which simply means tired or difficult. 刻苦 implies a conscious, sustained choice to endure hardship for a purpose, whereas 辛苦 can be used for any situation that is physically or mentally draining, regardless of intent.