饱尝辛酸bǎo cháng xīn suān

have a bitter past;have drunk the bitter cup (/the cups of bitterness);have gone (/been/passed) through the mill;(have)had a rough time; have met with many trials in life;(have) had one’s fill of sufferings (/the worries of life); have taken quite a few knocks;have smarted(under oppression and exploitation)
❍ 他的祖父一生～，在贫困中离开了人间。His grandfather had a rough time all his life and died in poverty.