Translation guide
The English word 'suffering' covers physical pain, emotional distress, and hardship. In Japanese, the most natural expressions depend on the type and context of suffering. This guide organizes common ways to express suffering from most useful to more specific.
To express that someone is going through a difficult time, experiencing pain or distress in a broad sense.
The most direct and common noun for 'suffering', covering both physical and mental pain. Can be used in many contexts.
He experienced a lot of suffering.
I want to escape from suffering.
Refers to hardships, troubles, or toil, often with a nuance of effort and endurance. Commonly used for life's struggles.
Hardships never end.
She raised her children through much hardship.
Focuses on worries, troubles, or emotional distress. Often used for personal problems or anxieties.
Please listen to my troubles.
To describe intense physical suffering, such as from injury or illness.
To express deep emotional pain, such as grief, heartbreak, or mental torment.
Primarily means sadness or sorrow, but can imply suffering from loss or grief.
I am sunk in deep sorrow.
Literally 'heart's pain', a common phrase for emotional suffering or heartache.
Refers to anguish or agony, often with a physical manifestation like writhing. Literary or intense.
To refer to the fundamental suffering in life as understood in Buddhism.
The Buddhist term for suffering, one of the Three Marks of Existence. Often used in religious or philosophical contexts.
Life is suffering.
A set phrase meaning 'all kinds of suffering', derived from Buddhist terminology. Used idiomatically for great hardships.
苦しみ (kurushimi) is the broadest term for suffering, covering both physical and mental pain. 苦労 (kurō) emphasizes hardship and effort, often in daily life or work. 悩み (nayami) focuses on worries and emotional troubles. Choose based on whether the suffering is general, effort-related, or worry-related.
In English, 'suffering' can be used lightly (e.g., 'I'm suffering from this heat'). In Japanese, directly translating this as 苦しみ may sound overly dramatic. Instead, use more natural expressions like 大変 (taihen) or つらい (tsurai).
The patient complained of severe suffering.
His words caused me emotional suffering.
悶え苦しむ。
To writhe in agony.
Living through all kinds of suffering.
Work is tough (I'm suffering at work).