Post by Andrew Methven

To "eat bitterness" (吃苦 chī kǔ) is a phrase in Chinese you probably learned early on. But here's a detail you probably don't know it. The original phrase means to endure hardship without complaint, because it's (probably) worth it. Or, to put it another way in a more advanced expression: “Only by suffering the bitterest of the bitter, do you rise above the rest” 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人 So the whole “eat bitterness” thing is quite ingrained in Chinese culture.... But there's another modern twist on the idea... With an internet slang term which turns "eating bitterness" on its head: "no bitterness but still eat it" (没苦硬吃) Which means "manufacturing hardship for yourself". It's the short form of a line that went viral in 2024: "I won't enjoy the blessings I have, but I'll force hardship on myself that isn't there" (有福我不享，没苦我硬吃) The background: It began as a dig at the older generation who suffered for the sake of it. Like the relative who won't switch on the air conditioning to save a few yuan. Or eats food that's gone off rather than waste it. It's suffering often worn as a badge of honour. … The phrase then broadened to describe anyone's self-inflicted, performative grind. Like punishing budget travel, or pointless overwork. You know…. That annoying kind of person who does something unpleasant because they decide to and then makes a big thing about it. I know a few people like that. … But that’s not the end of this note. Because, as always, with Chinese things have changed again… Now you can even wear it yourself, with a hint of humour. Example: it's how people describe choosing to put themselves through a gruelling Hyrox race. "I really feel like slapping myself for making myself suffer for no reason." 真想给没苦硬吃的自己来一巴掌 So.. the next time you're using "eat bitterness", try dropping this modern variation into the mix!