苦境(くきょう)

くきょう
noun
difficult situation; predicament; adversity
1. difficult situation; predicament; adversity; hardship
A situation of serious difficulty or suffering, often with no easy way out. Used for financial, personal, or organizational troubles.
苦境(くきょう)に立(た)たされる。
To be placed in a difficult situation.
会社(かいしゃ)は経営(けいえい)の苦境(くきょう)を乗(の)り越(こ)えた。
The company overcame its financial difficulties.
長引(ながび)く不況(ふきょう)で多(おお)くの中小企業(ちゅうしょうきぎょう)が苦境(くきょう)に陥(おちい)っている。
Many small and medium-sized businesses are falling into difficult circumstances due to the prolonged recession.

A situation of hardship or adversity. Composed of 苦(く) (suffering/hardship) + 境(きょう) (situation/circumstances). Often used in news and business contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 苦境(くきょう)に立(た)つ: to find oneself in a difficult position
  • 苦境(くきょう)に立(た)たされる: to be placed in a predicament
  • 苦境(くきょう)に陥(おちい)る: to fall into adversity
  • 苦境(くきょう)を乗(の)り越(こ)える: to overcome adversity
  • 苦境(くきょう)を脱(だっ)する: to escape from a difficult situation
  • 苦境(くきょう)に追(お)い込(こ)まれる: to be driven into a corner

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 窮地(きゅうち): desperate situation, predicament — more urgent and critical than 苦境(くきょう)
  • 逆境(ぎゃっきょう): adversity — similar meaning but emphasizes unfavorable conditions one must fight against
  • 困難(こんなん): difficulty, hardship — more general; can be used as a な-adjective
  • {ピンチ}: pinch, crisis — casual/colloquial equivalent
general
Added 2026.3.28 21:57
20000/20107_kukyou