苦しむ
kurushimu[kɯ̟ɾɯ̟ɕimɯ̟]
To suffer in Japanese is to say 苦しむ (kurushimu).
The verb 苦しむ specifically emphasizes experiencing physical or mental pain, distress or agony. This differs from other similar terms: 悩む generally means to worry or to be troubled (though it can convey the emotional aspect of suffering), and 困る primarily means to be troubled or to be in trouble, though it can imply suffering due to difficulties.
Meaning: feel pain (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe an ongoing state of suffering, such as a current period of hardship or a chronic illness, you can use the continuous form 苦しんでいる.
How do you pronounce it?
kurushimu
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific concept called 苦労 (kurō), which describes the 'hardship' or 'suffering' one endures to achieve a goal. This is viewed as a virtuous and respectable form of suffering.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'bitterness' in taste and 'suffering' in life share the same kanji character 苦.
- In Japanese culture, expressing personal suffering using 苦しむ can be seen as overly intense in casual settings. People often use more indirect terms like 困る to maintain social harmony.
Examples in context
- 理由なく苦しむのは嫌だ。I don't want to suffer for no reason.Tatoeba #13894325 by small_snow, translation #2915022 by AlanF_US
- 胃酸過多で空腹になると胃痛に苦しむ方に良いのがトマトです。Tomatoes are good for people who suffer stomach pain from excess stomach acid when their stomach is empty.Tatoeba #538098 by xtofu80, translation #538959 by blay_paul
- 彼は心の中で悩んでいます。He is suffering inside.
- 彼女は長い間苦しんでいる。She has been suffering for a long time.
- 彼はお金の問題で困っている。He is suffering from financial problems.
- 昨日の出来事で辛い思いをしています。I am suffering from the events of yesterday.
- 最近、彼は仕事のことで悩んでるんだよ。Lately, he's been suffering because of work.
- この経験はツラかったな。This experience was tough.
- 彼は本当に苦しんでいます。He is really suffering.
- この失敗によって心が傷つけられている。My heart is being hurt by this failure.
- 彼は孤独な気持ちで苦しんでいる。He is suffering from a feeling of loneliness.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suffer” translations and entries 苦しむ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
