刻苦

kèkǔ
  1. hardworking
  2. assiduous

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 刻 kè
  1. quarter (hour)
  2. moment
  3. to carve
  4. to engrave
  5. to cut
  6. oppressive
  7. classifier for short time intervals
2 苦 kǔ
  1. bitter
  2. hardship
  3. pain
  4. to suffer
  5. to bring suffering to
  6. painstakingly