下苦功 (xià kǔ gōng) — to put in hard work; to make strenuous efforts

Definition

A set phrase meaning to invest painstaking effort (usually at something difficult like a skill or study). Often paired with 在…上 or a time phrase to show sustained effort over time.

verb

to put in hard workto make strenuous efforts

Examples

，。
Tā wèi le xué hǎo shū fǎ, xià le hěn duō kǔ gōng.
He put in a lot of hard work to learn calligraphy well.
，下苦功。
Rú guǒ xiǎng chéng gōng, jiù bì xū xià kǔ gōng.
If you want to succeed, you must put in hard work.
下苦功，。
Tā zài kē yán fāng miàn xià kǔ gōng duō nián, zhōng yú yǒu le tū pò.
She put in years of hard work in scientific research and finally made a breakthrough.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.