Japanese word

苦戦

Pronunciation

Romajikusen

Meaning

  • nounstruggle

Example

相手の守りに苦戦しました。ai te no mamo ri ni ku sen shi ma shi ta

We struggled against the other team's defense.

Illustration for 苦戦 (struggle)

More examples

新しい機械の操作に苦戦しました。atara shi i ki kai no sō sa ni ku sen shi ma shi ta

I struggled with operating the new machine.

Core concept

The noun 苦戦 (kusen) describes progress that becomes difficult because an opponent or problem resists easy solutions.

Common phrases

  • 苦戦するku sen su ru

    struggle

  • 苦戦を強いられるku sen o shi i ra re ru

    be forced to struggle

Similar words

苦闘kutō: A strenuous struggle to overcome an opponent, obstacle, or serious difficulty.
難航nankō: A task or plan moves forward only with difficulty because of obstacles or complications.
苦労kurō: The difficulty and effort involved in handling a demanding task or situation.

Definition in Japanese

物事を進める際に、困難に直面して容易に成果を上げられないこと。mono goto o susu me ru sai ni kon nan ni choku men shi te yō i ni sei ka o a ge ra re na i ko to

Word origin

苦戦 (kusen) is a compound of 苦 (ku, "hardship") and 戦 (sen, "battle"), so its meaning extends the idea of fighting to difficult tasks.

Usage tips

  • Japanese news reports use 苦戦 (kusen) for companies, products, and teams that struggle in competition, not only for people in a literal battle.

Other meanings

  • hard fightnoun

Opposites

  • 楽勝rakushōeasy victorynoun

Word lists with this word