塗と炭たんの苦くるしみ

expression, noun

extreme misery; great distress

A literary fixed expression meaning deep suffering, as if crawling through mud and hot coals. Often used in formal or written contexts.

• 戦せん争そう中ちゅう、国こく民みんは塗と炭たんの苦くるしみを味あじわった。

  During the war, the people experienced extreme misery.

• 彼かれは塗と炭たんの苦くるしみからようやく抜ぬけ出だした。

  He finally emerged from great distress.