痛苦

tòngkǔ

adjective HSK 3 #855

Meanings

HSK 3

失去亲人是很痛苦的。

Shīqù qīnrén shì hěn tòngkǔ de.

Losing a loved one is very painful.

HSK 3

他痛苦地看着她离开。

Tā tòngkǔ de kàn zhe tā líkāi.

He watched in agony as she left.

HSK 3

别让自己活在痛苦中。

Bié ràng zìjǐ huó zài tòngkǔ zhōng.

Don't let yourself live in suffering.

usage

痛苦 can be used as both an adjective (painful) and a noun (suffering/pain). As a noun: 他的痛苦没人理解 'Nobody understands his suffering.'

grammar

Often paired with 地 as an adverb: 痛苦地哭了 'cried painfully.'

痛 tòng

苦 kǔ