苦 難(くなん)

くなん

noun

hardship; suffering; adversity

emotion

1. hardship; suffering; adversity

Great difficulties and pain that a person or a people must live through, such as war, poverty or persecution.

多(おお)くの苦難(くなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)えてきた。

I have overcome many hardships.

苦難(くなん)の時代(じだい)を生(い)き抜(ぬ)いた人々(ひとびと)の話(はなし)を聞(き)いた。

I listened to the stories of people who lived through times of adversity.

苦難(くなん)に立(た)ち向(む)かう勇気(ゆうき)を持(も)つことが人(ひと)を成長(せいちょう)させる。

Having the courage to face adversity helps a person grow.

A somewhat literary word for serious suffering or difficult circumstances. Composed of 苦(く) (suffering) and 難(なん) (difficulty). Carries a weightier tone than casual words for difficulty, often used to describe prolonged or significant challenges that test character.

Common collocations

苦難(くなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)える: overcome hardship
苦難(くなん)に立(た)ち向(む)かう: face adversity
苦難(くなん)の道(みち): a path of hardship
苦難(くなん)に耐(た)える: endure hardship

Similar words

困難(こんなん): difficulty — more neutral, used for problems and obstacles in general
苦労(くろう): hardship, trouble — more everyday, often includes personal effort
試練(しれん): trial, ordeal — emphasizes the testing or challenging aspect

Related Words

Compare: 困難(こんなん) (difficulty)

Compare: 苦労(くろう) (hardship, trouble)

Compare: 試練(しれん) (trial, ordeal)

Compare: 困苦(こんく) (hardship)

general

Added 2026.4.24 23:26 · Revised 2026.10.3 3:19

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