Readings: ク (Onyomi), くるしい, くるしむ, にがい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Suffering, hardship, pain, bitter
The character 苦 (kǔ) originally depicted a plant with a bitter taste. The top part 艹 (草) represents grass or plants, and the bottom part 古 (gǔ) suggests old or ancient, which also contributes to the sound. The combination evokes something that is old and unpleasant to the taste, leading to meanings like “bitter” or “suffering.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 苦 begins with the grass radical (艹) on top, followed by the components of 古 below. Pay attention to the two vertical strokes in the middle, and ensure proper order for balance.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 艹 (草) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ク (Ku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- くるしい (kurushii)
- くるしむ (kurushimu)
- にがい (nigai)
Common Words Using 苦
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 苦痛 | くつう | pain, suffering |
| 苦労 | くろう | trouble, hardship, difficulty |
| 苦戦 | くせん | hard fight, close contest |
| 辛苦 | しんく | hardship, toil |
| 克服 | こくふく | conquest, overcoming |
| 苦悩 | くのう | agony, anguish |
| 苦学 | くがく | struggle through difficulties to study |
| 苦行 | くぎょう | ascetic practices |
| 苦情 | くじょう | complaint, grievance |
| 苦心 | くしん | pains, efforts, hard work |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 苦しい | くるしい | painful, difficult, agonizing |
| 苦しむ | くるしむ | to suffer, to be tormented |
| 苦しめる | くるしめる | to torment, to harass |
| 苦い | にがい | bitter |
| 苦み | にがみ | bitterness |
| 寝苦しい | ねぐるしい | difficult to sleep, restless night |
| 聞き苦しい | ききぐるしい | unpleasant to hear |
| 見苦しい | みぐるしい | unsightly, ugly, shameful |
| 言い苦しい | いいぐるしい | difficult to say |
| 食べ苦しい | たべぐるしい | difficult to eat |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 頭が痛くて苦しい。
Kana: あたまがいたくてくるしい。
Romaji: Atama ga itakute kurushii.
English: My head hurts and it is painful.
Japanese: 彼は貧乏に苦しんだ。
Kana: かれはびんぼうにくるしんだ。
Romaji: Kare wa binbou ni kurushinda.
English: He suffered from poverty.
Japanese: この薬は苦い。
Kana: このくすりはにがい。
Romaji: Kono kusuri wa nigai.
English: This medicine is bitter.
Japanese: 仕事で苦労しています。
Kana: しごとでくろうしています。
Romaji: Shigoto de kurou shiteimasu.
English: I am having a hard time at work.
Japanese: それは苦い経験でした。
Kana: それはにがいけいけんでした。
Romaji: Sore wa nigai keiken deshita.
English: That was a bitter experience.
Japanese: 試験に合格するために、彼は苦学した。
Kana: しけんにごうかくするために、かれはくがくした。
Romaji: Shiken ni goukaku suru tame ni, kare wa kugaku shita.
English: He studied hard despite difficulties to pass the exam.
Japanese: その知らせを聞いて、彼は苦痛を感じた。
Kana: そのしらせをきいて、かれはくつうをかんじた。
Romaji: Sono shirase o kiite, kare wa kutsuu o kanjita.
English: Hearing that news, he felt pain.
Japanese: 困難を克服するために努力した。
Kana: こんなんをこくふくするためにどりょくした。
Romaji: Konnan o kokufuku suru tame ni doryoku shita.
English: I made efforts to overcome the difficulties.
Japanese: 彼の苦悩が顔に出ていた。
Kana: かれのくのうがかおにでていた。
Romaji: Kare no kunou ga kao ni deteita.
English: His agony showed on his face.
Japanese: これは聞き苦しい話だ。
Kana: これはききぐるしいはなしだ。
Romaji: Kore wa kikigurushii hanashi da.
English: This is an unpleasant story to hear.
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