倒悬之苦 dào xuán zhī kǔ

dire straits

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. dire straits
  2. 2. lit. the pain of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation

Characters

Character Meaning
倒 dào HSK 4
to pour; however; contrary to expectation
悬 xuán HSK 6
to hang or suspend; to worry; unresolved
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
苦 kǔ HSK 4
bitter; to suffer; hardship