吃苦頭 chī kǔ tou

DEFINITIONS

  1. to suffer
  2. to suffer for one's actions
  3. to pay dearly
  4. to burn one's fingers

CHARACTERS

吃 chī
HSK 1
eat; drink; suffer, endure, bear
苦 kǔ
HSK 4
bitter; hardship, suffering
頭 tou head; top; chief, first; boss