Japanese word

試練

Pronunciation

Romajishiren

Meaning

  • nounordeal

Example

私は試練に耐えます。watashi wa shi ren ni ta e ma su

I endure the ordeal.

Illustration for 試練 (ordeal)

More examples

新しい仕事は私に大きな試練を与えました。atara shi i shi goto wa watashi ni ō ki na shi ren o ata e ma shi ta

The new job put me through a major ordeal.

Core concept

Describes a demanding experience that tests a person's ability and endurance.

Common phrases

  • 試練に耐えるshi ren ni ta e ru

    endure an ordeal

  • 試練を乗り越えるshi ren o no ri ko e ru

    overcome an ordeal

  • 試練に立ち向かうshi ren ni ta chi mu ka u

    face an ordeal

Similar words

苦難kunan: Severe suffering or hardship that a person must endure.
困難konnan: A difficult situation or task that requires effort to overcome.
難関nankan: A difficult obstacle or stage that stands in the way of success.
挑戦chōsen: An effort to achieve something difficult or unfamiliar.

Definition in Japanese

人の力や忍耐を試す困難な経験。hito no chikara ya nin tai o tame su kon nan na kei ken

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 試 (shi, "test") + 練 (ren, "train or refine") presents a difficult experience as something that tests and tempers a person.

Usage tips

  • In English, ordeal usually suggests severe suffering, while 試練 (shiren) can also describe a demanding challenge viewed as a stage of personal growth.

Other meanings

  • testnoun

Word lists with this word