How to say "suffer" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 苦しむくるしむgodan verb, intransitive verbThe general verb for suffering: enduring physical or emotional pain, distress, or worry. Use this when a person suffers from illness, hardship, or anguish; it can also mean being worried or agonizing over something.
- 泣くなくgodan verb, intransitive verbSays to suffer (from) or be troubled by something, facing hardship. In this sense it does not refer literally to crying; it describes a person being adversely affected by loss, damage, or difficult circumstances.
- 浴びるあびるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers suffering something such as an attack, and more broadly having things showered or heaped upon one. It suits contexts like coming under fire, or drawing criticism, attention, or even praise.
- 喫するきっするsuru verb (irregular), transitive verbMeans to suffer something such as a defeat, or to receive a blow. Use it for suffering a setback or loss in a formal, written style; it is really about suffering a concrete negative outcome rather than ongoing pain.
Use 「苦しむ」 for suffering felt by a person, 「泣く」 for suffering or being troubled by circumstances, 「浴びる」 for suffering an attack or having criticism heaped upon you, and 「喫する」 for suffering a defeat or blow.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 苦しむくるしむto suffer
- 被るこうむるto suffer
- 苦しがるくるしがるto suffer
- 苦になるくになるto be bothered (by something)
- 目にあうめにあうto experience (something unpleasant)
- 見舞われるみまわれるto be hit (by a typhoon, earthquake, etc.)
- ひどい目にあうひどいめにあうto have a bad time
- 泣くなくto suffer (from)
- 浴びるあびるto suffer (e.g. an attack)
- 負うおうto suffer (an injury)
- 喫するきっするto suffer (e.g. defeat)
- 喘ぐあえぐto suffer
- 喫すきっすto suffer (e.g. defeat)
- うけるto sustain (damage)
See also
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