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This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

四苦

Reading

Kana: しく
Romaji: shiku
Kana
Romaji

Definition

noun
1

the four kinds of suffering (birth, old age, disease, death)

(Buddhist term)

Kanji

四
Readings: シ、 よ、 よ.つ、 よっ.つ、 よん
Meaning: four
苦
Readings: ク、 くる.しい、 -ぐる.しい、 くる.しむ、 くる.しめる、 にが.い、 にが.る
Meanings: suffering, trial, worry, hardship, feel bitter, scowl

Example Sentences

レポートを書(か)くのに四苦八苦(しくはっく)した。
➥I had a very hard time writing the paper.
Full Entry➤
ホームページ作(づく)りに四苦八苦(しくはっく)してるようだけど、手伝(てつだ)ってあげようか。
➥You look like you're having a lot of trouble setting up that web page. Want some help?
Full Entry➤
我々(われわれ)はノルマを果(は)たそうと一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい)にがんばって四苦八苦(しくはっく)した。
➥We almost broke our necks trying to meet the quota.
Full Entry➤
パソコンを始(はじ)めた頃(ころ)はノートンの重(おも)いソフトに騙(だま)され四苦八苦(しくはっく)していた。
➥When I started using a computer I was taken in by Norton's CPU hungry software and had a lot of trouble.
Full Entry➤
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