The Vietnamese word "khốn khổ" is an adjective that describes a state of being utterly miserable or wretched. It can be used to express extreme sadness, suffering, or a difficult situation that someone is experiencing.
Cô ấy đã khốn khổ khi mất việc.
(She was miserable when she lost her job.)
Gia đình tôi khốn khổ vì thiên tai.
(My family is suffering due to the natural disaster.)
In more advanced contexts, "khốn khổ" can be used in various forms, sometimes combined with other words to emphasize the situation: - Khốn khổ quá (so miserable) - Khốn khổ suốt đời (miserable for a lifetime)
While "khốn khổ" primarily denotes extreme misery, it can also be used in a more figurative sense to describe someone who feels overwhelmed or trapped by their circumstances, even if they are not in severe physical distress.