苦しい

Reading

Kana: くるしい
Romaji: kurushii
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

1

painful; difficult; agonizing

2

needy; tight (budget); straitened (circumstances)

See also: 苦しい懐 (reading くるしいふところ)
3

forced (smile, joke); lame (excuse); strained (interpretation)

See also: 苦しい言い訳 (reading くるしいいいわけ)
4

awkward (situation); painful (position)

suf
5

(after masu stem) hard to do; unpleasant

Note: often ぐるしい
See also: 寝苦しい (reading ねぐるしい) 聞き苦しい (reading ききぐるしい) 見苦しい (reading みぐるしい)

Kanji

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

(くる)しい、やめろ。
➥It's so painful. Stop it!
Full Entry➤
(なつ)(よる)寝苦(ねぐる)しい。
➥We cannot sleep well on summer nights.
Full Entry➤
この部屋(へや)狭苦(せまくる)しい。
➥This room is cramped.
Full Entry➤
良薬(りょうやく)(くち)(にが)し。
➥A good medicine tastes bitter.
Full Entry➤
(くる)しいときの神頼(かみだの)み。
➥Danger past, God forgotten.
Full Entry➤
昨夜(さくや)(あつ)くるしかった。
➥It was sultry last night.
Full Entry➤
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