[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"entry-ku3 se4":3},{"schema_version":4,"language":5,"slug":6,"hanzi":7,"traditional":8,"trad_differs":9,"entry_type":10,"length":11,"normalized":7,"unicode":12,"wp_char_id":13,"wp_post_id":14,"word_frequency_rank":15,"char_frequency_rank":16,"frequency_percentile":17,"frequency":18,"is_radical":16,"kangxi_index":16,"standards":21,"pos":33,"measure_word":16,"difficulty_score":37,"stroke_count":16,"radical":16,"svg_data":16,"hanzi_writer":16,"pronunciations":38,"senses":47,"etymology":84,"tones_table":16,"decomposition":16,"compounds":87,"words_with":95,"characters":96,"chengyu":16,"relations":126,"confusions":131,"confusables":132,"formation_type":16,"grammar_patterns":133,"usage_notes":134,"flashcard_templates":135,"quiz_seeds":136,"seo_questions":137,"page_sections":138,"popup_expanded":166,"cultural":169,"checkpoints":172,"page_progress":185,"nav":196,"sources":203,"quality":209,"ai":211,"seo":230,"translations":231,"faq":232,"recommended_books":233,"canonical_url":234,"popup":235,"breadcrumbs":237,"counts":245,"structured_data":246},"3.0.0","zh-Hans","hsk-6/%E8%8B%A6%E6%B6%A9-ku3 se4","苦涩","苦澀",true,"word",2,"U+82E6 U+6DA9",4853,3581,19595,null,80.4,{"word_rank":15,"char_rank":16,"percentile":17,"label":19,"corpus":20},"rare","subtlex-ch",{"hsk_2_0":22,"hsk_3_0":24,"tocfl":26,"yct":28,"bct":29,"cefr":30,"hskk":31},{"vocabulary":23,"recognition":16,"writing":16},6,{"vocabulary":25,"band":16,"recognition":16,"writing":16},7,{"levels":27,"band":16},[],{"level":16},{"relevant":16},"C1",{"level":32},3,{"code":34,"en":34,"zh":35,"zh_pinyin":36},"a","形容词","xíngróngcí",0.497,[39],{"pinyin":40,"pinyin_alphanumeric":41,"tone":32,"tone_class":42,"tone_color":43,"ipa":44,"is_primary":9,"audio_url":45,"register":46},"kǔsè","ku3se4","tone-3","#27ae60","","https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/k/Ku3se/ku3se4.wav",[],[48,60,72],{"sense_key":49,"pronunciation_ref":41,"pos":34,"gloss_en":50,"gloss_cn":44,"domains":52,"register":53,"usage_note":44,"grammar_tags":54,"collocations":55,"synonyms":56,"antonyms":57,"patterns":58,"examples":59},"ku3 se4:s1",[51],"bitter and astringent",[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],{"sense_key":61,"pronunciation_ref":41,"pos":34,"gloss_en":62,"gloss_cn":44,"domains":64,"register":65,"usage_note":44,"grammar_tags":66,"collocations":67,"synonyms":68,"antonyms":69,"patterns":70,"examples":71},"ku3 se4:s2",[63],"pained",[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],{"sense_key":73,"pronunciation_ref":41,"pos":34,"gloss_en":74,"gloss_cn":44,"domains":76,"register":77,"usage_note":44,"grammar_tags":78,"collocations":79,"synonyms":80,"antonyms":81,"patterns":82,"examples":83},"ku3 se4:s3",[75],"agonized",[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],{"type":44,"decomposition":16,"explanation":44,"hint":16,"semantic":16,"phonetic":16,"status":85,"theories":86},"confirmed",[],[88,93],{"char":89,"pinyin":90,"meaning":91,"entry_id":92},"楛","hu4","coarse, crude; a kind of plant",9041,{"char":94,"pinyin":44,"meaning":44,"entry_id":16},"瘔",[],[97,111],{"hanzi":98,"entry_id":99,"wp_char_id":100,"wp_post_id":100,"pinyin":101,"tone":32,"tone_class":42,"tone_color":43,"first_gloss":102,"audio_url":103,"slug":104,"stroke_count":105,"radical":106,"standards":107,"etymology":16,"position":100},"苦",803,0,"kǔ","bitter","https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/k/Ku/ku3.wav","hsk-4/%E8%8B%A6-ku3",8,"艹",{"hsk_2_0":108,"hsk_3_0":110},{"vocabulary":109},4,{"vocabulary":109},{"hanzi":112,"entry_id":113,"wp_char_id":100,"wp_post_id":100,"pinyin":114,"tone":109,"tone_class":115,"tone_color":116,"first_gloss":117,"audio_url":118,"slug":119,"stroke_count":120,"radical":121,"standards":122,"etymology":16,"position":125},"涩",2543,"sè","tone-4","#2980b9","astringent","https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/s/Se/se4.wav","hsk-0/%E6%B6%A9-se4",10,"氵",{"hsk_2_0":123,"hsk_3_0":124},{"vocabulary":16},{"vocabulary":16},1,{"confusables":127,"synonyms":128,"antonyms":129,"see_also":130},[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[139,143,147,151,155,159,163],{"section_key":140,"label":141,"order":125,"is_visible":9,"component":142},"hero","Character Overview","CharHero",{"section_key":144,"label":145,"order":11,"is_visible":9,"component":146},"pronunciations","Pronunciations","CharTones",{"section_key":148,"label":149,"order":32,"is_visible":9,"component":150},"definitions","Definitions","CharAbout",{"section_key":152,"label":153,"order":109,"is_visible":9,"component":154},"examples","Example Sentences","CharExamples",{"section_key":156,"label":157,"order":158,"is_visible":9,"component":16},"grammar","Grammar Patterns",5,{"section_key":160,"label":161,"order":23,"is_visible":9,"component":162},"compounds","Related Words","CharCompounds",{"section_key":164,"label":165,"order":25,"is_visible":9,"component":16},"cultural","Cultural Facts",{"components":16,"word_family_top5":16,"example_pair":16,"tone_info":167},{"tone":109,"tone_class":168},"tone4",{"fun_facts":170,"proverbs":171,"cross_cultural":44},[],[],[173,174,176,180,182],{"key":140,"label":141,"order":125,"section":140,"xp":158},{"key":175,"label":149,"order":11,"section":175,"xp":120},"about",{"key":177,"label":178,"order":11,"section":179,"xp":100},"sources_complete","3 sources merged","pipeline",{"key":181,"label":145,"order":32,"section":181,"xp":120},"pronunciation",{"key":183,"label":184,"order":23,"section":179,"xp":100},"validated","Validation passed",{"total_checkpoints":32,"total_xp":186,"completion_bonus_xp":187,"max_xp":188,"step_label":189,"mastery_levels":190,"widgets":195},25,13,38,"Learn in 3 easy steps",[191,192,193,194],"seen","learning","familiar","mastered",[],{"prev":197,"next":200},{"hanzi":198,"slug":199},"冷落","hsk-6/%E5%86%B7%E8%90%BD-leng3 luo4",{"hanzi":201,"slug":202},"霸道","hsk-6/%E9%9C%B8%E9%81%93-ba4 dao4",[204,205,207],{"name":20,"url":16},{"name":206,"url":16},"cedict",{"name":208,"url":16},"legacy",{"confidence":125,"warnings":210,"last_verified":16},[],{"definition":212,"mnemonic":213,"usage_notes":214,"hsk_notes":215,"cultural_note":216,"cross_cultural":16,"faq":217,"common_mistakes":227,"quick_contrast":228,"enriched_at":229},"The term 苦涩 (kǔ sè) describes a taste that is both bitter and astringent, often associated with certain foods or drinks. It can also convey emotional pain or anguish, indicating experiences that are difficult or sorrowful. This dual meaning makes it applicable in both culinary and emotional contexts.","Imagine a bitter cup of tea (苦) that leaves a dry, astringent feeling in your mouth (涩). Picture yourself grimacing while tasting it, associating the taste with the emotional pain of a heartbreak. The sound 'ku' can remind you of a 'cough' from the bitterness, and 'se' sounds like 'sour', enhancing the memory.","Learners often confuse 苦涩 with related terms like 苦 (bitter) and 酸 (sour). Use 苦涩 to describe a more complex experience combining bitterness and dryness. Be mindful of the context: it can be used informally in conversation or more formally in writing, especially in literature.","As an HSK 6 word, 苦涩 connects with other advanced vocabulary dealing with emotions and sensory experiences. Students should focus on using it in descriptive writing or conversations about feelings and food, recognizing its nuanced meanings.","In Chinese culture, the concept of 苦涩 often relates to the philosophy of embracing life's challenges and sorrows. It reflects the traditional belief that one must endure bitterness to appreciate sweetness, a theme prevalent in Chinese literature and poetry.",[218,221,224],{"a":219,"q":220},"Common foods include unripe persimmons, certain herbal teas, and dark chocolate.","What are some foods that might taste 苦涩?",{"a":222,"q":223},"Yes, it is often used to express feelings of sadness or emotional pain, such as after a breakup.","Can 苦涩 be used to describe emotions?",{"a":225,"q":226},"Generally, it carries a negative connotation, as it describes unpleasant experiences or tastes.","Is 苦涩 a positive or negative term?","Learners sometimes use 苦涩 interchangeably with just 苦, missing the nuance of astringency. For example, saying '这茶很苦' (This tea is very bitter) is correct, but using 苦涩 here misses the additional meaning of dryness or emotional context.","苦 (bitter) — use 苦涩 (kǔ sè) when referring to a combination of bitterness and astringency, rather than just bitterness alone.","2026-03-24T15:36:40.000Z",{"title":16,"description":16,"og_image":16},{},[],[],"/chinese-dictionary/chinese-to-english/hsk-6/%E8%8B%A6%E6%B6%A9-ku3 se4/",{"hanzi":7,"pinyin":40,"tone":32,"tone_class":42,"first_gloss":51,"hsk_level":23,"radical":16,"stroke_count":16,"audio_url":45,"word_family":236,"slug":6},[],[238,241,244],{"name":239,"url":240},"Dictionary","/chinese-dictionary/",{"name":242,"url":243},"HSK 6","/chinese-dictionary/hsk-6/",{"name":7,"url":234},{"senses":32,"pronunciations":125,"examples":100,"compounds":11,"words_with":100,"confusables":100,"flashcards":100,"quizzes":100,"checkpoints":158},{"defined_term":247,"learning_resource":256,"breadcrumb_list":266,"faq_page":274},{"@context":248,"@type":249,"name":7,"description":51,"inLanguage":250,"inDefinedTermSet":251,"url":255},"https://schema.org","DefinedTerm","zh",{"@type":252,"name":253,"url":254},"DefinedTermSet","HSK 6 Vocabulary","https://beta.mandarintemple.com/chinese-dictionary/hsk-6/","https://beta.mandarintemple.com/chinese-dictionary/chinese-to-english/hsk-6/%E8%8B%A6%E6%B6%A9-ku3 se4/",{"@context":248,"@type":257,"name":258,"description":259,"educationalLevel":242,"teaches":260,"inLanguage":261,"learningResourceType":263,"isAccessibleForFree":9,"url":255},"LearningResource","苦涩 (kǔsè) — HSK 6 Chinese","Chinese 苦涩 (kǔsè): bitter and astringent. HSK 6.","Chinese: 苦涩",[250,262],"en",[264,265],"dictionary entry","interactive exercise",{"@context":248,"@type":267,"itemListElement":268},"BreadcrumbList",[269,272,273],{"@type":270,"position":125,"name":239,"item":271},"ListItem","https://beta.mandarintemple.com/chinese-dictionary/",{"@type":270,"position":11,"name":242,"item":254},{"@type":270,"position":32,"name":7,"item":255},{}]