Kanji

What does the kanji 苦 mean?

苦 means suffering, hardship; bitter. On'yomi ク. Kun'yomi くる.しい、-ぐる.しい、くる.しむ、くる.しめる、にが.い、にが.る.

Quick facts
On'yomi	ク
Kun'yomi	くる.しい、-ぐる.しい、くる.しむ、くる.しめる、にが.い、にが.る
Strokes	8
Main radical	艸
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N3

苦On'yomi クKun'yomi くる.しい、-ぐる.しい、くる.しむ、くる.しめる、にが.い、にが.る

N3 · estimated, JLPT framework8 strokes

suffering, hardship; bitter

Memory hook

Grass (艹) grown old (古) tastes bitter and is hard to swallow — BITTER, PAINFUL.

Main radical

艸grass, plant 6 strokes

Built from

Stroke order · 8 strokes

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Common words

苦いにがいbitter
苦痛くつうpain, agony
苦しいくるしいpainful, distressing; suffocating
苦しむくるしむto suffer, to be in distress

More words with this kanji

苦労くろうhardship, trouble
苦手にがてpoor at, not good at; disliking
苦くsuffering, hardship, worry
苦心くしんpainstaking effort
苦情くじょうcomplaint
ご苦労様ごくろうさまthank you for your hard work
無茶苦茶むちゃくちゃchaotic, messy; absurd, outrageous
見苦しいみぐるしいunsightly, disgraceful, indecent

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