苦涩 kǔsè▶ ขม

Stroke order

苦涩 is written in 18 strokes across 2 characters.

• 苦 — 8 strokes
• 涩 — 10 strokes

Senses

1. bitter and astringent
2. pained
3. agonized

Related words

• 吃苦ความยากลำบาก
• 苦尽甘来ความทุกข์ทั้งหมดมีรางวัลของมัน
• 刻苦ขยัน
• 痛苦ความเจ็บปวด
• 艰苦แข็ง, ยาก
• 苦ขม

苦涩 is pronounced kǔsè and means “ขม”. This word appears in HSK 6, one level of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi — the proficiency exam most Chinese courses are built around. Passive recognition of 苦涩 arrives quickly and leaves quickly. Active recall is slower to build and far more durable, so LexiTrail keeps returning the word to you at widening intervals rather than on a timer.