Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To study hard, to study diligently despite difficulties: "khổ học" describes the act of pursuing education with great effort and perseverance, often while facing hardships, financial constraints, or challenging circumstances. It emphasizes the struggle and sacrifice involved in the learning process.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy đã khổ học suốt những năm đại học để đạt được tấm bằng. (He studied hard/worked his way through university all those years to earn his degree.)
  • Tinh thần khổ học của cô ấy thật đáng khâm phục. (Her spirit of diligent study in hardship is truly admirable.)
  • Nhiều sinh viên phải khổ học, vừa đi làm thêm vừa đi học. (Many students have to work their way through school, taking part-time jobs while studying.)

Advanced Usage

• "sự khổ học": (noun) The state or experience of studying diligently through hardship.
  • Sự khổ học của ông ấy cuối cùng cũng được đền đáp. (His arduous study was finally rewarded.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chăm chỉ học tập: (verb phrase) To study diligently. (This phrase focuses on diligence but may not inherently imply hardship.)
• Học hành vất vả: (verb phrase) To have a hard/difficult time studying.
• Vừa học vừa làm: (verb phrase) To study while working. (This describes a common method of "khổ học".)

Synonyms

• Study assiduously: Học tập miệt mài, cần cù.
• Work one's way through school/college: Tự kiếm tiền để trang trải việc học.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim": (Idiom) Literally "Perseverance turns an iron rod into a needle." This proverb encapsulates the spirit of "khổ học," meaning persistent effort leads to success.
• "Đèn sách": (Noun, literary) Literally "lamp and books," referring to the long hours of late-night studying, often associated with "khổ học."

1. Study hard, study in reduced circumstances, work one's way through
2. (school,college, university ...)