How to say "adversity" in Japanese

• 逆境ぎゃっきょうCommon
  nounThe word for adversity as external hardship: adverse circumstances or an unfortunate situation that works against a person. It names the difficult conditions themselves, not the feelings they produce.
  逆境ぎゃっきょうに直面ちょくめんしても彼女かのじょはにこにこしている。↗

  She carries on smiling even in the face of adversity.
• 失意しついCommon
  no-adjectiveThis denotes an emotional state — deep disappointment, despondency, or despair, a broken heart — rather than hardship itself. For 'adversity' as difficult circumstances, 逆境 is the word; 失意 fits only the dejection that follows.
  ビルは失意しついのうちに死しんだ。↗

  Bill died a disappointed man.

Choose 逆境 for adversity as external hardship, difficult circumstances or hard times; 失意 denotes the emotional state of deep disappointment or despair, so it fits 'adversity' only when the reference is to inner despondency rather than the circumstances themselves.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 逆境ぎゃっきょうadverse circumstances
• 失意しついdisappointment
• 悲境ひきょうadversity
• 艱苦かんくhardship
• 風波ふうはhardships (of life)