苦
kǔ · HSK 4
bitter
🌿 苦 = 艹 (grass) + 古 (gǔ, phonetic) — bitter herbs
The 艹 radical marks plants; 古 gives the sound (gǔ → kǔ). Originally named a bitter-tasting herb, then extended to 'bitter' in taste and 'suffering / hardship' in life.
苦 — grass radical 艹 + 古 (old)
Originally referred to a bitter-tasting plant, with the grass radical 艹 indicating its botanical nature and 古 providing the phonetic element. The meaning extended from the literal bitter taste to figurative senses of hardship, suffering, and painful effort.