苦中作乐 kǔ zhōng zuò lè

find joy in hardship; stay cheerful in pain

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to find joy in sorrows (idiom); to enjoy sth in spite of one's suffering

Characters

Character Meaning
苦 kǔ HSK 4
bitter; to suffer; hardship
中 zhōng HSK 1
in; within; middle
作 zuò HSK 1
to do; to write or compose; writings or works
乐 lè HSK 2
happy; cheerful; to laugh