| 痛苦 | tong4 ku3 | suffering |
| 艰苦 | jian1 ku3 | hard |
| 辛苦 | xin1 ku3 | hard |
| 苦 | ku3 | bitter |
| 苦难 | ku3 nan4 | (n) suffering |
| 苦的 | ku3 de5 | stewed |
| 刻苦 | ke4 ku3 | hardworking |
| 贫苦 | pin2 ku3 | poor |
| 艰苦奋斗 | jian1 ku3 fen4 dou4 jian1 ku3 fen4 dou3 | to struggle arduously |
| 苦心 | ku3 xin1 | laborious at pains |
| 受苦 | shou4 ku3 | hardship |
| 苦味 | ku3 wei4 | bitterness |
| 苦恼 | ku3 nao3 | vexed |