# Dukkha

**URL:** <https://classicaltheravada.org/t/dukkha/2462>\
**Category:** Pali studies\
**Created:** [June 5, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/dukkha/2462 "2026-06-05T12:43:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/dukkha/2462/1 "2026-06-05T12:43:19Z")

</div>

**Visuddhimagga** XVI

> 1. 
> 1. As to derivation, 3. division by character, et cetera: here, however, firstly “as to **derivation”** [of the word _dukkha_ (suffering):] the word du (“bad”) is met with in the sense of vile (kucchita); for they call a vile child a _du-putta_ (“bad child”). The word kham (“-ness”), however is met with in the sense of empty (tuccha), for they call empty space “kham.” And the first truth is vile because it is the haunt of many dangers, and **it is empty because it is devoid of the lastingness, beauty, pleasure, and self conceived by rash people**. So it is called dukkham (“badness” = suffering, pain), because of vileness and emptiness.