苦しい（くるしい）
JLPT N3 · i-adjective
Pitch accent: nakadaka (middle-high) — pitch drops after mora 3
Meaning: painful / agonizing
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 苦しくて | くるしくて |
| ta-form (past) | 苦しかった | くるしかった |
| nai-form (negative) | 苦しくない | くるしくない |
Example sentences
- 練習は苦しいが、やりがいがある。 — The practice is hard, but it's rewarding.
- 生活が苦しくても、あきらめない。 — Even when life is hard, I won't give up.
Idioms & proverbs containing “苦しい”
- 苦しい時の神頼み (くるしいときのかみだのみ) — danger past, God forgotten; once on shore, we pray no more; man turns to God only in times of trouble; there are no atheists in foxholes
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “苦しい” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)