修羅場(しゅらば)

しゅらば
noun
scene of carnage, dramatic confrontation
1. scene of carnage, fierce battle scene
A scene of intense fighting, conflict, or chaos. Originally a Buddhist term for the realm of fighting demons (asura).
修羅場(しゅらば)をくぐり抜(ぬ)ける。
To survive a fierce battle.
数々(かずかず)の修羅場(しゅらば)を経験(けいけん)してきたベテラン記者(きしゃ)だ。
He's a veteran journalist who has been through countless intense situations.
戦場(せんじょう)はまさに修羅場(しゅらば)だった。
The battlefield was a true scene of carnage.
2. dramatic confrontation, ugly scene
A tense, emotionally charged situation, especially a confrontation in personal relationships such as being caught cheating.
修羅場(しゅらば)になった。
It turned into an ugly scene.
浮気(うわき)がバレて修羅場(しゅらば)になった。
The cheating was discovered and it became an ugly confrontation.
締(し)め切(き)り前(まえ)の職場(しょくば)は毎回(まいかい)修羅場(しゅらば)だ。
The workplace before a deadline is always a scene of chaos.

Usage

Sense 2 is extremely common in modern casual usage, especially in relationship drama. The word has broadened to describe any intensely stressful or chaotic situation, including work deadlines.

Common collocations

  • 修羅場(しゅらば)をくぐる: to go through intense situations
  • 修羅場(しゅらば)になる: to turn into a dramatic scene
  • 修羅場(しゅらば)を経験(けいけん)する: to experience a fierce situation

Etymology

From Buddhist cosmology: 修羅(しゅら) (asura, fighting demons) + 場(ば) (place). Originally referred to the realm where asura battle constantly.

Pronunciation

Also read as しゅらじょう in more literary contexts, though しゅらば is standard in modern usage.

Related Words

Related: 阿修羅(あしゅら) (Asura)
general
Added 2026.2.8 14:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10500/10599_shuraba