辛酸

xīnsuān

adjective HSK 7-9 #34,818

Meanings

1 bitter; miserable
2 sad and painful (life experiences)

Characters

pungent; bitter; toilsome

sour; aching; sad

Examples

HSK 7-9

她讲述了自己辛酸的童年。

Tā jiǎngshù le zìjǐ xīnsuān de tóngnián.

She told the story of her bitter childhood.

HSK 7-9

回想起那段辛酸的日子，他忍不住流泪。

Huíxiǎng qǐ nà duàn xīnsuān de rìzi, tā rěnbuzhù liúlèi.

Thinking back to those miserable days, he couldn't help but shed tears.

Tips

memory

辛 (pungent/bitter) + 酸 (sour) - a combination of two unpleasant tastes used as a metaphor for hardship and sorrow.

Stroke Order

辛 xīn

酸 suān