辛(つら)い

つらい

adjective (i-adjective)

hard, painful, difficult

1. hard, painful, difficult to bear

Describing something emotionally or physically difficult to endure. Expresses suffering or hardship.

辛(つら)い時(とき)だ。

It's a hard time.

仕事(しごと)が辛(つら)いです。

Work is hard/painful.

Expressing that work is difficult to endure

別(わか)れるのは辛(つら)かった。

Parting was painful.

辛(つら)いことがあったら、話(はな)してください。

If something difficult happens, please talk to me.

一人(ひとり)で辛(つら)い気持(きも)ちを抱(かか)えないでください。誰(だれ)かに相談(そうだん)することが大切(たいせつ)です。

Please don't keep your painful feelings to yourself. It's important to talk to someone.

辛(つら)い conjugates as an i-adjective: 辛(つら)くない (negative), 辛(つら)くて (te-form), 辛(つら)かった (past).

Note: The kanji 辛(つら)い can also be read からい (meaning spicy). Context usually makes the meaning clear. 辛(つら)い (つらい) expresses emotional/physical hardship, while 辛(から)い (からい) describes spicy taste.

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:12 · Revised 2026.3.5 21:46

01000/01112_tsurai