Definition
孤苦 describes a state of loneliness and suffering — being alone and enduring hardship or misery. It often applies to elderly people, orphans, or anyone who lacks family support and lives in emotional or physical pain. Unlike 孤单 (simply 'lonely'), 孤苦 has a stronger tone of bitterness and distress.
s.v.
lonely and wretchedsolitary and suffering
Examples
- ，孤苦。Nà wèi lǎo nǎinai yí gè rén zhù, shēnghuó shífēn gū kǔ.That old grandmother lives alone and leads a very lonely and wretched life.
- ，。Tā gū kǔ língdīng de zhàn zài jiētóu, méiyǒu rén lái bāng tā.He stood alone and miserable on the street, with no one coming to help him.
- 孤苦，。Tā yíbèizi gū kǔ wúyī, wǎnnián cái yù dào hǎoxīnrén zhàogù.She was lonely and helpless her whole life, and only in her old age did she meet kind people to take care of her.
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