Japanese word

苦しみ

Pronunciation

Romajikurushimi

Meaning

  • nounsuffering

Example

長い間の苦しみから、やっと解放されました。naga i aida no kuru shi mi ka ra ya tto kai hō sa re ma shi ta

I was finally freed from long-lasting suffering.

Illustration for 苦しみ (suffering)

More examples

彼は家族に自分の苦しみを打ち明けました。kare wa ka zoku ni ji bun no kuru shi mi o u chi a ke ma shi ta

He confided his suffering to his family.

Core concept

Refers to the distress a person experiences when pain or hardship is difficult to escape.

Common phrases

  • 苦しみを乗り越えるkuru shi mi o no ri ko e ru

    overcome suffering

  • 苦しみに耐えるkuru shi mi ni ta e ru

    endure suffering

  • 苦しみから解放されるkuru shi mi ka ra kai hō sa re ru

    be freed from suffering

Similar words

苦痛kutsū: Refers to physical or mental pain that causes intense distress.
苦悩kunō: Refers to deep mental distress caused by serious problems or conflict.
悩みnayami: Refers to a problem or concern that causes continuing mental distress.
痛みitami: Refers to pain felt in the body or mind as an unpleasant sensation.

Definition in Japanese

苦しい状態に置かれたときに感じるつらさや、その状態。kuru shi i jō tai ni o ka re ta to ki ni kan ji ru tsu ra sa ya so no jō tai

Word origin

苦しみ (kurushimi) is formed from the verb 苦しむ (kurushimu), "to suffer," by using its continuative form as a noun; the related adjective 苦しい (kurushii) means "painful."

Usage tips

  • In discussions of Buddhism, English "suffering" often translates 苦 (ku), whereas 苦しみ (kurushimi) is the ordinary noun used for suffering in everyday Japanese.

Other meanings

  • painnoun
  • hardshipnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word