苦恼

kǔ nǎo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adjective Uncommon

Save to list

Definitions

1. vexed
2. distressed

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 快乐 kuài lè 快乐 kuài lè happy; joyful 快乐 means 'happy', opposite of distressed.: happy; joyful

Related words

1 item

• 忧愁 yōu chóu 忧愁 yōu chóu to be worried 忧愁 is more literary for 'sad and worried'.: to be worried

Synonyms

1 item

• 烦恼 fán nǎo 烦恼 fán nǎo to be worried Both mean 'worried' or 'vexed'; 苦恼 emphasizes inner distress, 烦恼 emphasizes annoyance or trouble.: to be worried

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not use 很苦恼 to describe a trivial annoyance; it implies deep distress. For minor irritation, use 烦 instead.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他因为考试没考好而 苦恼 。

He is distressed because he didn't do well on the exam.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 苦恼

• 苦 苦 kǔ: bitter
• 恼 恼 nǎo: to get angry