苦しむ|くるしむkurushimu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto suffer; to groan; to be worried
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 苦しむ（くるしむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 苦しみます（くるしみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 苦しまない（くるしまない） |
| polite (masen) | 苦しみません（くるしみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 苦しまず・苦しまぬ（くるしまず・くるしまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 苦しんだ（くるしんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 苦しみました（くるしみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 苦しまなかった（くるしまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 苦しみませんでした（くるしみませんでした） |
| Te form | 苦しんで（くるしんで） |
| Potential | 苦しめる（くるしめる） |
| Passive | 苦しまれる（くるしまれる） |
| Causative | 苦しませる（くるしませる） |
| Causative passive | 苦しませられる・苦しまされる（くるしませられる・くるしまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 苦しめば（くるしめば） |
| tara | 苦しんだら（くるしんだら） |
| Volitional | 苦しもう（くるしもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 苦しみましょう（くるしみましょう） |
| Imperative | 苦しめ（くるしめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
胸が苦しむ
苦しむ describes a state of suffering or pain experienced by the subject (marked with が), while 苦しめる indicates that someone or something causes that suffering in another (marked with を).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym受難じゅなんWrittenA written noun for suffering and ordeals; also the Passion of Christ. 「苦しむ」 is the everyday verb for suffering.
- Synonym喘ぐあえぐNeutralLiterally to gasp for breath; by extension, to struggle in poverty or hard times, as in 「不況に喘ぐ」. 「苦しむ」 covers suffering of body and mind in general.
- Synonym苦しがるくるしがるNeutralDescribes someone showing or complaining of pain and distress; mostly used of other people, while 「苦しむ」 is the suffering one feels oneself.
- Related痛むいたむNeutralPain in a particular part of the body; also heartache and things spoiling or breaking. 「苦しむ」 focuses on overall suffering and anguish.
- Related苦悩くのうWrittenA written/formal noun for mental anguish and inner struggle. 「苦しむ」 is a verb covering both physical and mental suffering.
- RelatedピリピリNeutralA mimetic word for stinging pain, or a tense atmosphere and frayed nerves. 「苦しむ」 is the suffering itself.
- Related痛めるいためるNeutralTransitive: to injure or damage something; also to worry or grieve, as in 「心を痛める」. 「苦しむ」 is intransitive, for one's own suffering.
- RelatedヒリつくCasualColloquial. A stinging, smarting pain on the skin; figuratively a tense, charged atmosphere. 「苦しむ」 is suffering in the general sense.
- RelatedヒリヒリNeutralA mimetic word for skin burning or stinging, or the bite of spicy food. 「苦しむ」 is the suffering itself.
- Related被るこうむるWrittenWritten/formal prose. To suffer or incur damage, or receive favors, as in 「被害を被る」. 「苦しむ」 centers on one's own subjective suffering.
- RelatedうずくNeutralA wound throbbing with pain; also a dull ache in one's heart. 「苦しむ」 is the broader term for suffering.
- Related病めるやめるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Usually in the attributive form 「病める」 before a noun, meaning ailing, as in 「病める社会」. 「苦しむ」 is broader.
- Antonym楽しむたのしむNeutralAntonym in feeling: to enjoy something and take pleasure in it, the opposite of suffering.
- Antonym喜ぶよろこぶNeutralAntonym in feeling: to be glad or delighted, the opposite of suffering.
- Antonym安らぐやすらぐNeutralAntonym in state of mind: to feel calm and at ease, the opposite of being troubled.
Use 「苦しむ」 for suffering in general, physical or mental, or being beset by something. 「痛む」 is for pain in a body part, 「喘ぐ」 for struggling in hardship, 「苦悩」 for mental anguish in written prose, 「被る」 for incurring damage. 「苦しがる」 shows another's distress, ヒリヒリ and ピリピリ describe stinging or tension, and 「楽しむ」「喜ぶ」「安らぐ」 are opposites in feeling and mood.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
