何苦

hékǔ

adverb HSK 7-9 #26,221

Meanings

1 why bother
2 why inflict suffering on oneself
3 there is no need to suffer

Characters

what; why (literary)

bitter; suffering

Literally "why suffer" - rhetorically asks why one would endure hardship

Examples

HSK 3

何苦呢？放下吧。

Hékǔ ne? Fàngxià ba.

Why bother? Let it go.

HSK 6

你何苦为难自己呢？

Nǐ hékǔ wéinán zìjǐ ne?

Why put yourself through such difficulty?

Tips

usage

Compare with 何必: 何必 questions the necessity of an action, while 何苦 specifically questions why someone would choose to suffer. 何苦 carries more emotional weight and empathy.

Stroke Order

何 hé

苦 kǔ