何苦 hékǔ why bother?
why bother?; is it worth the trouble?
How to remember 何苦: 何 what + 苦 bitter = why bother?.
Characters
How it is used
- 'why put yourself through it / is it worth it' - 何苦为这点小事生气 (hékǔ wèi zhè diǎn xiǎoshì shēngqì) why get angry over such a trifle?
- Rhetorical, expressing that the trouble/suffering isn't worth it; sympathetic or chiding. 何苦呢 (why suffer so).
- Focuses on needless hardship (苦 = bitter/suffering), where 何必 focuses on needless effort.