Japanese word

苦痛

Pronunciation

Romajikutsū

Meaning

  • nounpain

Example

このけがは大きな苦痛を伴います。ko no ke ga wa ō ki na ku tsū o tomona i ma su

This injury causes a lot of pain.

Illustration for 苦痛 (pain)

More examples

治療の苦痛は、思ったより軽かったです。chi ryō no ku tsū wa omo tta yo ri karu ka tta de su

The pain from the treatment was less severe than I expected.

Core concept

Describes a distressing feeling in the body or mind that is hard to endure.

Common phrases

  • 苦痛を感じるku tsū o kan ji ru

    feel pain

  • 苦痛を和らげるku tsū o yawa ra ge ru

    relieve pain

  • 苦痛に耐えるku tsū ni ta e ru

    endure pain

Similar words

痛みitami: An unpleasant sensation in the body or mind caused by injury, illness, or distress.
苦しみkurushimi: Physical or emotional suffering that causes prolonged distress.
不快感fukaikan: A feeling of discomfort or unease that affects the body or mind.

Definition in Japanese

身体や心に感じる、つらく苦しい感覚。shin tai ya kokoro ni kan ji ru tsu ra ku kuru shi i kan kaku

Word origin

苦痛 (kutsū) combines 苦 (ku, "suffering") and 痛 (tsū, "pain"), giving the compound its sense of distressing pain.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 苦痛 (kutsū) sounds more serious and formal than words for ordinary discomfort, so it often describes intense distress.

Other meanings

  • sufferingnoun
  • agonynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word