also: ぐるしい
i-adjective
painful; physically hard; tough
Describes physical pain, discomfort, difficulty breathing, or a hard situation that is physically or practically tough to endure.
走ったあと、息が苦しい。
After running, it is hard to breathe.
最後の坂道は本当に苦
The final uphill stretch was really tough.
i-adjective
distressing; emotionally painful; awkward
Used for mental or emotional strain, including a painful feeling, a stressful situation, or an awkward position one is put in.
友達にうそをついているのが苦しい。
It is painful to keep lying to my friend.
彼は苦しい立場に立たされた。
He was put in an awkward position.
i-adjective
financially tight; needy; struggling
Common with words such as 生活, 家計, 経営, and 財政 to describe tight or strained circumstances, especially financial ones.
今月は家計が苦しい。
Money is tight for the household this month.
店の経営はかなり苦しいらしい。
It seems the shop's business situation is quite strained.
i-adjective
Used when an explanation, excuse, interpretation, smile, or performance feels forced, unconvincing, or not quite natural.
その説明は少し苦しい。
That explanation is a little strained.
彼の言い訳はかなり苦しかった。
His excuse was pretty lame.
suffix, i-adjective
hard to do; unpleasant to do
Only with reading ぐるしい
Suffix after the masu-stem of a verb, often pronounced ぐるしい in compounds. It forms adjectives meaning that the action or state is difficult, uncomfortable, or unpleasant, as in 寝苦しい and 見苦しい.
See also: 寝苦しい (ねぐるしい) · 見苦しい (みぐるしい)
蒸し暑くて寝苦しい夜だった。
It was a hot, humid night that made it hard to sleep.
人前で見苦しい態度を取らないでください。
Please do not behave in an unpleasant or embarrassing way in front of others.