四苦八苦(しくはっく)

しくはっく
noun, verb (suru)
struggling, suffering
1. struggling, having a hard time
To struggle greatly with something difficult. Originally Buddhist term for life's sufferings.
引(ひ)っ越(こ)しの準備(じゅんび)で四苦八苦(しくはっく)だ。
I'm struggling with moving preparations.
日本語(にほんご)の敬語(けいご)に四苦八苦(しくはっく)しました。
I had a hard time with Japanese honorifics.
数学(すうがく)の宿題(しゅくだい)に四苦八苦(しくはっく)している。
I'm really struggling with my math homework.

四苦八苦(しくはっく) means to struggle greatly or have a very hard time.

ETYMOLOGY (Buddhist origin):

Originally a Buddhist term referring to life's inevitable sufferings:

  • 四苦(しく) (four sufferings): 生(しょう) (birth), 老(ろう) (aging), 病(びょう) (sickness), 死(し) (death)
  • 八苦(はっく) (eight sufferings): the four above plus four more related to desires and attachments

MODERN USAGE:
Now commonly used to describe struggling with any difficult task, without the Buddhist connotations.

GRAMMAR:

  • 四苦八苦(しくはっく)する: to struggle (suru verb)
  • ～に四苦八苦(しくはっく)する: to struggle with ~
  • 四苦八苦(しくはっく)だ: it's a struggle (noun + copula)

EXAMPLES:

  • 仕事(しごと)に四苦八苦(しくはっく)する: to struggle with work
  • 子育(こそだ)てに四苦八苦(しくはっく): struggling with childcare

RELATED: 悪戦苦闘(あくせんくとう) (hard struggle), 苦労(くろう)する (to have trouble).

general
Added 2026.1.16 8:53 · Revised 2026.3.6 13:04
04500/04773_shikuhakku