Readings: ク (Onyomi), くるしい, くるしむ, にがい, にがて (Kunyomi)
Meaning: bitter, suffering, difficult
The kanji 苦 is composed of the radical 艹 (kusa-kanmuri, meaning “grass” or “plant”) and 古 (ko, meaning “old” or “ancient”). Historically, it is thought to depict a plant with a bitter taste, or something difficult to consume or process, hence deriving meanings like “bitter,” “painful,” or “difficult.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 苦 (kuru) is written in 8 strokes. Start with the three strokes of the grass radical (艹) at the top. Then, write the components of 古 (ko) below: the horizontal line, the vertical line that pierces it, and finally the hook and the closing horizontal line.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 艹 (くさかんむり) |
|---|---|
| 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)
- にがて (nigate)
Common Words Using 苦
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 苦痛 | くつう | pain, agony |
| 苦労 | くろう | troubles, hardships |
| 苦心 | くしん | pains, efforts |
| 苦学 | くがく | study under difficulties |
| 苦境 | くきょう | dilemma, difficult situation |
| 苦戦 | くせん | hard fight |
| 苦言 | くげん | frank advice, bitter words |
| 苦汁 | くじゅう | bitter experience, bitter draught |
| 苦笑 | くしょう | bitter smile |
| 苦難 | くなん | hardship, suffering |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 苦しい | くるしい | painful, difficult |
| 苦しむ | くるしむ | to suffer, to be tormented |
| 苦い | にがい | bitter |
| 苦手 | にがて | poor at, weak in, dislike |
| 苦しめる | くるしめる | to torment, to harass |
| 苦み | くるしみ/にがみ | suffering; bitterness |
| 食い苦しい | くいぐるしい | hard to eat |
| 見苦しい | みぐるしい | unsightly, ugly, shameful |
| 聞き苦しい | ききぐるしい | hard to listen to, unpleasant to hear |
| 苦し紛れ | くるしまぎれ | in desperation, at wits’ end |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この薬はとても苦い。
Kana: このくすりはとてもにがい。
Romaji: Kono kusuri wa totemo nigai.
English: This medicine is very bitter.
Japanese: 彼は仕事で大変苦労している。
Kana: かれはしごとでたいへんくろうしている。
Romaji: Kare wa shigoto de taihen kurou shiteiru.
English: He is having a very hard time with work.
Japanese: 試験が難しくて苦しかった。
Kana: しけんがむずかしくてくるしかった。
Romaji: Shiken ga muzukashikute kurushikatta.
English: The exam was difficult and painful.
Japanese: 彼女は人前で話すのが苦手だ。
Kana: かのじょはひとまえではなすのがにがてだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hitomae de hanasu no ga nigate da.
English: She is not good at speaking in front of people.
Japanese: 彼は病気で苦しんでいる。
Kana: かれはびょうきでくるしんでいる。
Romaji: Kare wa byouki de kurushindeiru.
English: He is suffering from an illness.
Japanese: その知らせに彼は苦笑した。
Kana: そのしらせにかれはくしょうした。
Romaji: Sono shirase ni kare wa kushou shita.
English: He gave a bitter smile at the news.
Japanese: 会社は今、苦境に立たされている。
Kana: かいしゃはいま、くきょうにたたされている。
Romaji: Kaisha wa ima, kukyou ni tatase rareteiru.
English: The company is currently in a difficult situation.
Japanese: 私たちは苦い経験から学んだ。
Kana: わたしたちはにがいけいけんからまなんだ。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa nigai keiken kara mananda.
English: We learned from a bitter experience.
Japanese: 彼の言葉は私にとって苦言だった。
Kana: かれのことばはわたしにとってくげんだった。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba wa watashi ni totte kugen datta.
English: His words were a frank piece of advice for me.
Japanese: 人生には多くの苦難がつきものだ。
Kana: じんせいにはおおくのくなんがつきものだ。
Romaji: Jinsei ni wa ooku no kunan ga tsukimono da.
English: Life is full of many hardships.
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