khốn khổ
adjective Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [xon˧˦ xo˧˩]Huế [kʰoŋ˦˧˥ kʰow˧˨]Saigon [kʰoŋ˦˥ kʰow˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
khốn khổ means miserable; wretched.
Chinese characters: 困苦
Meanings of khốn khổ in English
Adjective
- miserable; wretched
Example sentences with khốn khổ
- Lười biếng, trụy lạc và rượu chè quá độ bất hạnh thay đã ra tay, để người mẹ nằm chết cóng giữa những đứa con khốn khổ. Idleness, vice, and intemperance had done their miserable work, and the dead mother lay cold and still amid her wretched children.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 困苦. Doublet of khốn khó.
Frequently asked questions
What does khốn khổ mean in English?
khốn khổ (adjective) means "miserable; wretched".
How do you pronounce khốn khổ?
IPA: Hanoi [xon˧˦ xo˧˩]; Saigon [kʰoŋ˦˥ kʰow˨˩˦]. Tones: khốn — rising tone (sắc), khổ — dipping tone (hỏi).
Is khốn khổ a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. khốn khổ is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 困苦.