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

你何苦为难自己呢？

Nǐ hékǔ wéinán zìjǐ ne?

Why put yourself through such difficulty?

何苦呢？放下吧。

Hékǔ ne? Fàngxià ba.

Why bother? Let it go.

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