1.
quite a struggle; a hard time; a real effort
Describes a task or situation that requires considerable effort or trouble. Used when something turns out to be more difficult than expected.
駐車場を見つけるのが一苦労だった。
Finding a parking spot was quite a struggle.
子どもを毎朝起こすのも一苦労だ。
Just waking the kids up every morning is a real effort.
大きな家具を三階まで運ぶのは一苦労だ。
Carrying large furniture up to the third floor is quite a task.
USAGE:
Typically used with だ or だった to describe a completed or ongoing difficulty. The pattern ～のは一苦労だ (doing X is quite a struggle) is very common. Despite the literal meaning of "one hardship," it emphasizes that something is unexpectedly troublesome.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ～のは一苦労だ (doing X is quite a struggle)
- 一苦労する (to have a hard time)
- 一苦労も二苦労も (not just one but many hardships)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 苦労: hardship, trouble — broader and more general, not limited to a single difficult task
- 手間: effort, bother — focuses on the time and labor required rather than difficulty