noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
ascetic practice; penance; mortification
Primarily a religious term for severe self-discipline or physical hardship undertaken for spiritual purification. Often used in Buddhist contexts.
彼は悟りを開くために山で苦行を続けた。
He continued ascetic practices in the mountains to attain enlightenment.
断食は一種の苦行だ。
Fasting is a form of penance.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
hardship; ordeal; strenuous task
Figurative extension: any extremely difficult or painful undertaking, often used hyperbolically for grueling work or experiences.
この仕事はまるで苦行だ。
This job is like an ordeal.
毎朝のランニングは彼にとって苦行に等しい。
Running every morning is tantamount to a hardship for him.