苦力 kǔ lì

unskilled laborer; hard, bitter work

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 16867th word

Definitions

  1. 1. (loanword) coolie, unskilled Chinese laborer in colonial times
  2. 2. hard toil
  3. 3. bitter work

Characters

Character Meaning
苦 kǔ HSK 4
bitter; to suffer; hardship
力 lì HSK 3
strength; force; power