苦海

kǔhǎi

noun #23,707

Meanings

1 sea of bitterness
2 abyss of suffering
3 depths of misery (Buddhist concept)

Characters

bitter / suffering / hardship

Examples

HSK 6

苦海无边，回头是岸。

Kǔhǎi wúbiān, huítóu shì àn.

The sea of bitterness is boundless - turn back and you will reach the shore.

HSK 7-9

她终于从那段苦难的婚姻中走出了苦海。

Tā zhōngyú cóng nà duàn kǔnàn de hūnyīn zhōng zǒuchū le kǔhǎi.

She finally escaped the sea of misery of that painful marriage.

Tips

culture

苦海 is a Buddhist concept representing the ocean of worldly suffering that sentient beings must cross to reach enlightenment. The proverb 苦海无边，回头是岸 (the sea of bitterness is boundless - turn back to find the shore) calls for repentance and spiritual awakening.

Stroke Order

苦 kǔ

海 hǎi