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B1 noun #3,500 most common 11 min read

苦労

kurou Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 苦労 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 苦労 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 苦労 (kurou) as a word that means 'hard work' or 'a hard time.' You might hear it in the phrase 'Gokurousama,' which people say when someone finishes a job. You can think of it as being similar to 'taihen' (difficult), but it is a noun. For example, if you are studying Japanese and it is very difficult, you are having 'kurou.' You don't need to worry about all the complex grammar yet; just remember that it is used when life or a task is not easy. It's often used when talking about parents or people who work very hard for others. You might see it in simple stories about people who had a hard life before becoming successful. The most important thing to remember is the feeling of 'bitterness' (ku) and 'work' (rou) combined together. It's a very common word in Japan because people value hard work very much. Even at this basic level, knowing this word helps you understand how Japanese people think about effort. You can use 'kurou suru' to say 'I am having a hard time.' For example, 'Kanji ni kurou shiteimasu' means 'I am struggling with kanji.' This is a very useful way to express your feelings when things are difficult. Remember to be careful not to use 'Gokurousama' to your teacher, as it is only for superiors to say to subordinates. Stick to 'Otsukaresama' instead. By learning this word early, you gain insight into the Japanese spirit of perseverance. It's a key word for understanding daily life and social interactions in Japan.

At the A2 level, you can start using 苦労 (kurou) in more specific ways. You should understand the difference between 'kurou suru' (to struggle) and 'kurou o kakeru' (to cause someone else trouble). For example, if you forget your homework and your mother has to bring it to school, you have caused her 'kurou.' You can say 'Kurou o kakete gomen nasai.' This is a very polite and common way to apologize. You will also see this word in descriptions of people's lives. For instance, 'Kanojo wa kurou shite sodatta' means 'She grew up having a hard time.' This level also involves understanding that 'kurou' is a noun, so it can be used with adjectives like 'takusan no' (many) or 'sukoshi no' (a little). You should be able to recognize it in simple news stories or blog posts where people talk about their challenges. It is also a good time to learn the phrase 'Gokurousama deshita' and when it is appropriate to use it (only to people younger or lower in rank than you). You might hear your boss say it to you at a part-time job. Understanding the kanji 苦 (painful) and 労 (labor) will help you remember the meaning. You can also start comparing it to 'taihen'—while 'taihen' is an adjective for a situation, 'kurou' is the actual hardship you feel. This distinction helps your Japanese sound more natural. You might also encounter the word 'kurou-banashi,' which means a story about one's hardships. People in Japan often share these stories to show how hard they have worked to reach their goals.

At the B1 level, you should have a firm grasp of 苦労 (kurou) and its nuances. You are expected to use it in various contexts, such as describing personal experiences, discussing social issues, or expressing empathy. You should understand that 'kurou' implies a long-term or significant struggle, not just a momentary difficulty. For example, you would use it for the years of effort it takes to master a craft. You should also be comfortable with phrases like 'kurou o kasaneru' (to undergo repeated hardships) and 'kurou ga taenai' (to have constant hardships). At this level, you can distinguish 'kurou' from 'doryoku' (effort) and 'konnan' (difficulty). You understand that 'kurou' has a more emotional and subjective weight. You should also be aware of the phrase 'kurou o itowazu' (without begrudging the hardship), which is used to praise someone's dedication. In writing, you can use 'kurou' to add depth to your descriptions of characters or historical events. You will frequently encounter this word in Japanese literature, dramas, and interviews. It is also important to understand the cultural significance: in Japan, having experienced 'kurou' is often seen as a prerequisite for being a reliable and empathetic leader. You might participate in discussions about whether 'kurou' is necessary for success. You should also be able to use the word in formal apologies, such as 'Tadaina go-kurou o okake shimashita' (I caused you immense hardship), which is much stronger than a simple 'gomen nasai.' This word is essential for reaching an intermediate level of fluency because it touches on core Japanese values of endurance and social responsibility.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 苦労 (kurou) with high precision and understand its more abstract applications. You can use it to discuss complex topics like the 'kurou' of immigrants in a new country or the 'kurou' of maintaining a traditional craft in the modern world. You should be familiar with more advanced collocations like 'kurou ga mi o musubu' (hardships bear fruit) and 'kurou o tomonau' (to involve hardship). You understand the subtle difference between 'kurou' and 'shinku' (bitter toil), the latter being more literary. At this level, you can analyze the use of 'kurou' in political speeches or corporate mission statements, where it is often used to emphasize the company's history of overcoming adversity. You should also be aware of the psychological aspect: 'kurou-shou' refers to a personality type that tends to take on extra burdens or worry excessively. You can use 'kurou' in sophisticated sentence structures, such as 'Kurou shita kai ga atte...' (It was worth the hardship because...). You should also be able to interpret the word in Enka lyrics or classical poetry, where it often symbolizes the trials of love or the bitterness of fate. Your ability to use 'kurou' correctly in both formal and informal registers will demonstrate your deep understanding of Japanese social dynamics. You can also use it to express deep gratitude, acknowledging the 'invisible' hardships others have faced on your behalf. This level of mastery allows you to engage in nuanced conversations about the value of suffering and the meaning of success in Japanese society.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 苦労 (kurou) should be near-native. You can appreciate the philosophical implications of the word and how it relates to concepts like 'gaman' (endurance) and 'on' (social debt). You are capable of using 'kurou' in academic essays or high-level business negotiations to describe systemic challenges or historical precedents. You should be familiar with rare and literary expressions involving 'kurou,' such as 'kurou o name-tsukusu' (to taste every possible hardship). You can discuss how the perception of 'kurou' has changed in modern Japan compared to the Meiji or Showa eras. You should be able to detect subtle irony or sarcasm when someone uses the word 'kurou' to describe something that isn't actually difficult. At this level, you can also use the word to describe the 'kurou' involved in intellectual pursuits, such as the struggle to formulate a new theory or the difficulty of translating a complex text while preserving its nuance. You understand how 'kurou' functions as a social currency—how sharing one's hardships can build trust and legitimacy in a group. You can also navigate the complex honorifics surrounding the word, choosing exactly the right level of politeness to acknowledge someone else's 'kurou' without being overbearing or distant. Your usage of 'kurou' will be seamless, reflecting an internalized understanding of its weight in Japanese life and language.

At the C2 level, you possess a profound, intuitive mastery of 苦労 (kurou). You can use it to discuss the finest nuances of human experience, from the existential 'kurou' of the human condition to the specific, technical 'kurou' of a master artisan. You are familiar with the word's appearance in classical texts, Edo-period literature, and modern philosophy. You can analyze how 'kurou' is used as a rhetorical device in public discourse to foster national or group identity. You understand the deep connection between 'kurou' and the Japanese aesthetic of 'wabi-sabi,' where the marks of struggle and age are seen as beautiful. You can use the word in creative writing to evoke specific emotional atmospheres or to critique social norms. You are also expert at using the word in highly sensitive interpersonal situations, where acknowledging someone's 'kurou' can be the key to resolving a conflict or building a lifelong bond. Your mastery extends to the word's phonetic impact in speech—how the emphasis on the 'ku' can convey the depth of the pain described. You can participate in high-level debates about the 'cult of kurou' in Japanese corporate culture and its impact on mental health. Essentially, for you, 'kurou' is no longer just a vocabulary word; it is a lens through which you can interpret and articulate the complexities of Japanese culture and the universal nature of human struggle.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

苦労 in 30 Seconds

Kurou represents the combination of 'bitter' and 'labor,' signifying hardship or great effort experienced over time.
It is commonly used as a verb (kurou suru) to mean struggling with something like language learning or life changes.
The phrase 'Gokurousama' is a way to thank subordinates for their work, but should never be used toward superiors.
Experiencing kurou is culturally valued in Japan as a way to build character and show dedication to one's goals.

The Japanese word 苦労 (kurou) is a foundational concept in Japanese culture that encompasses hardship, suffering, toil, and the significant effort required to overcome obstacles. At its linguistic core, it is composed of two kanji: 苦 (ku), meaning bitter or painful, and 労 (rō), meaning labor or toil. When combined, they describe a state of 'bitter labor' or a journey through difficulties that tests one's character. Unlike the English word 'effort,' which often carries a positive or neutral connotation of striving, 苦労 specifically highlights the struggle, the burden, and the mental or physical exhaustion involved in a task. It is used to describe the long-term challenges parents face while raising children, the grueling hours a student spends studying for entrance exams, or the systemic obstacles an entrepreneur faces when starting a business. In Japan, 苦労 is not just seen as a negative experience to be avoided; it is often viewed as a necessary rite of passage that builds resilience and empathy. To have 'seen hardship' (苦労を知る - kurou o shiru) is considered a mark of maturity and wisdom. People use this word to express sympathy for someone else's struggle, to apologize for causing someone trouble, or to reflect on their own life journey. It is deeply embedded in social etiquette, most notably in the phrase 'Gokurousama,' which acknowledges the hard work of others. Understanding this word requires moving beyond a simple dictionary definition and recognizing it as a measure of a person's endurance and dedication.

Kanji Breakdown: The first character 苦 represents the taste of bitterness or the feeling of pain. The second character 労 represents the physical act of working or exerting oneself. Together, they signify that true achievement often comes through a process that is both difficult and laborious.

彼は若い頃、ずいぶん苦労したそうです。 (He reportedly experienced a great deal of hardship when he was young.)

Common Usage: It is frequently used with the verb 'suru' (to do/experience) or 'kakeru' (to cause/impose on someone else).

親に苦労をかけたくない。 (I do not want to cause my parents any hardship.)

この作品を完成させるのに多大な苦労があった。 (There was a great deal of hardship involved in completing this work.)

Synonym Note: While 'doryoku' (effort) is positive, 'kurou' (hardship) emphasizes the pain and the burden of the process.

長年の苦労がようやく報われた。 (Years of hardship were finally rewarded.)

生活の苦労が顔に出ている。 (The hardships of life are showing on their face.)

Using 苦労 (kurou) correctly involves understanding its various grammatical roles, primarily as a noun that often functions as a surrogate verb when paired with 'suru'. When you say 'kurou suru,' you are expressing that you are having a hard time or struggling with a specific task or situation. This is distinct from 'taihen,' which is an adjective describing a situation. For example, 'Shigoto ga taihen desu' means the work is difficult, while 'Shigoto de kurou shiteimasu' means you are personally struggling or suffering through the work. Another critical usage is 'kurou o kakeru,' which means to cause someone else hardship. This is frequently used in formal apologies or when expressing gratitude to family members. For instance, a child might say to their parents, 'Kurou o kakete gomen nasai' (I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble/hardship). In a professional setting, you might encounter 'kurou o itowazu,' which means 'not minding the hardship' or working tirelessly despite difficulties. This is a high compliment for someone's work ethic. Furthermore, the phrase 'kurou o kasaneru' (to pile up hardships) describes a life filled with continuous challenges. It is also important to note the phrase 'Gokurousama,' a set expression used to thank someone for their labor. However, learners must be cautious: 'Gokurousama' is typically used by a superior to a subordinate. Using it toward a boss or a teacher would be considered impolite; 'Otsukaresama' is the correct alternative in those cases. In literary or formal contexts, 'kurou' can be paired with adjectives like 'tadaina' (immense) or 'hisetsu na' (painful/pathetic) to emphasize the scale of the struggle. Whether you are describing the 'kurou' of learning a new language or the 'kurou' of living in a foreign country, the word always carries a sense of weight and personal investment.

Verb Pairing: Suru: To experience or undergo hardship. Example: 'Kanji o oboeru no ni kurou suru.' (I struggle with remembering kanji.)

新しい環境に慣れるまで、かなり苦労しました。 (I struggled quite a bit until I got used to the new environment.)

Verb Pairing: Kakeru: To cause someone else trouble or hardship. Often used with 'ni' for the person being burdened.

妻に苦労をかけっぱなしで申し訳ない。 (I feel terrible for constantly causing my wife hardship.)

彼は苦労を惜しまず働く人だ。 (He is a person who works without begrudging the hardship.)

Idiomatic Use: Kurou-shou: Referring to a person who seems destined to always have a hard time or who takes on more than they can handle.

母は苦労性で、いつも他人のことばかり心配している。 (My mother has a 'hardship nature' and is always worrying about others.)

どうすればいいか苦労している。 (I am struggling with what I should do.)

You will encounter 苦労 (kurou) in a wide variety of social and professional contexts in Japan. One of the most common places is in the workplace. At the end of a long day or after a difficult project, a manager might say 'Gokurousama' to their team. This acknowledges that the team has put in significant effort and perhaps faced difficulties. In documentaries or news features, you will often hear 'kurou-banashi' (stories of hardship). These are narratives where successful individuals, such as Olympic athletes, musicians, or corporate leaders, detail the poverty, failures, or personal losses they overcame to reach their current status. This narrative arc is very popular in Japanese media because it validates the person's success. You will also hear it in personal conversations among friends and family. A friend might say 'Kurou shiteru ne' (You're having a hard time, aren't you?) to show empathy when someone is going through a divorce, a job loss, or a period of illness. In family settings, the word is often used to describe the sacrifices made by previous generations. Grandparents might talk about the 'kurou' of the post-war era, or parents might mention the 'kurou' of paying for their children's education. In literature and song lyrics (especially Enka), 'kurou' is a recurring theme, symbolizing the bittersweet nature of life and the nobility of enduring pain for the sake of love or duty. It is a word that bridges the gap between the mundane difficulties of daily life and the profound struggles of the human condition.

Workplace Context: Used in 'Gokurousama deshita' to acknowledge a subordinate's hard work. It conveys a sense of paternalistic gratitude.

プロジェクトの成功までには、多くの苦労がありました。 (There were many hardships until the project's success.)

Family Context: Used to describe the long-term dedication of parents or ancestors. It implies a debt of gratitude (on) from the younger generation.

母の苦労を思うと、涙が出ます。 (When I think of my mother's hardships, I am moved to tears.)

慣れない海外生活で、ずいぶん苦労したことでしょう。 (You must have experienced a lot of hardship living abroad without being used to it.)

Historical Context: Often used in history books to describe the 'kurou' of people during famine, war, or rapid industrialization.

開拓者たちは大変な苦労をして、この地を切り拓いた。 (The pioneers opened up this land through immense hardship.)

ご苦労様でした。 (Thank you for your hard work—said by a superior to a subordinate.)

One of the most frequent mistakes made by learners of Japanese is the improper use of 'Gokurousama' (ご苦労様). This phrase is inherently hierarchical. It is used by a person of higher status (like a boss, teacher, or elder) to acknowledge the efforts of someone of lower status. If a student says 'Gokurousama' to their professor, it sounds incredibly condescending, as if the student is evaluating the professor's performance. The correct phrase for subordinates to use toward superiors is 'Otsukaresama' (お疲れ様). Another common error is confusing 苦労 (kurou) with physical tiredness or fatigue, which is 疲れ (tsukare). While they are related, 'kurou' refers to the broader experience of hardship or the effort itself, whereas 'tsukare' is the resulting physical or mental state. For example, you wouldn't say 'Kurou ga tamatta' to mean you are sleepy; you would say 'Tsukare ga tamatta.' Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 'kurou' with 'shinpai' (worry). While 'kurou' can involve worry, it implies active struggle or toil. If you are just mentally anxious about something, 'shinpai' is the better choice. There is also a tendency to use 'kurou' where 'taihen' (difficult/tough) would be more natural. 'Taihen' is an adjective that describes the situation ('This homework is tough'), while 'kurou' is the noun for the hardship you experience ('I struggled with this homework'). Finally, be careful with the particle usage. When saying you are struggling with something, you must use 'ni' or 'de' depending on the context. Saying 'Eigo o kurou suru' is incorrect; it should be 'Eigo ni kurou suru' or 'Eigo de kurou suru.' Understanding these nuances will prevent you from sounding either rude or unnatural in your Japanese communication.

Status Trap: Never say 'Gokurousama' to your boss. Stick to 'Otsukaresama' to avoid sounding like you are looking down on them.

❌ 先生、ご苦労様でした。 (Impolite to a teacher.)

Kurou vs. Tsukare: 'Kurou' is the process of struggle; 'Tsukare' is the feeling of exhaustion. You can have 'kurou' without being physically tired, and 'tsukare' without a major 'kurou'.

❌ 仕事で苦労がたまっています。 (Incorrect for 'I am tired.')

❌ 日本語を苦労します。 (Incorrect particle.)

Confusion with Shinpai: If you are just worried about an exam, use 'shinpai'. If you are staying up all night studying and finding the material impossible, use 'kurou'.

✅ 資金繰りに苦労している。 (Correct: struggling with cash flow.)

✅ お苦労をおかけしました。 (Correct: I caused you hardship.)

To truly master 苦労 (kurou), it is helpful to compare it with similar Japanese words that also deal with difficulty and effort. One common synonym is 困難 (konnan), which means 'difficulty' or 'obstacle'. However, 'konnan' is more objective and formal. A mountain can be 'konnan' to climb, but the personal struggle you feel while doing it is 'kurou'. Another related word is 努力 (doryoku), meaning 'effort'. While 'doryoku' focuses on the positive action of trying hard to achieve a goal, 'kurou' focuses on the pain and hardship that comes with that effort. You 'doryoku' to succeed, but you 'kurou' because the path is hard. Then there is 苦難 (kunan), which means 'adversity' or 'suffering'. 'Kunan' is much heavier than 'kurou' and is often used in religious or historical contexts, such as the 'kunan' of a nation during war. For physical toil, you might use 骨折り (honeori), which literally means 'bone-breaking'. This is used for tasks that require a lot of physical energy or tedious work, like 'honeori-zon' (wasted effort). For mental distress, 悩み (nayami) is used to describe worries or troubles that weigh on the mind. Finally, 災難 (sainan) refers to a disaster or misfortune that happens to you, usually without your fault, whereas 'kurou' often implies a situation you are actively working through. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that best fits the intensity and nature of the challenge being described.

Kurou vs. Doryoku: Doryoku is the fuel (effort); Kurou is the heat and friction (hardship). You can put in doryoku without feeling much kurou if you enjoy the task.

合格のために努力したが、その過程で多くの苦労があった。 (I made an effort to pass, but there were many hardships in the process.)

Kurou vs. Konnan: Konnan is often used for external obstacles (e.g., economic difficulty), while kurou is used for the internal experience of dealing with them.

経済的な困難に直面し、生活に苦労している。 (Facing economic difficulties and struggling with daily life.)

多大な骨折りに感謝します。 (I am grateful for your great physical toil/effort.)

Antonym: Raku: The opposite of 'kurou' is 'raku' (ease/comfort). 'Kurou no ato ni wa raku ga kuru' (After hardship comes ease).

老後は楽をさせてあげたい。 (I want to let them live in comfort in their old age.)

苦労を厭わない。 (I do not mind the hardship.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji for 'bitter' (苦) is also used for 'coffee' in some historical contexts, showing how the concept of bitterness and struggle were linked in the Japanese mind.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kʊˈroʊ/

US /kuˈroʊ/

Flat pitch (Heiban), but in some dialects, the 'ku' might be slightly higher.

Rhymes With

苦労 (kurou) 不老 (furou) 苦悩 (kunou) 無謀 (mubou) 苦境 (kukyou) 苦労 (kurou) 武道 (budou) 苦労 (kurou)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'rou' as a short 'ro'. It must be a long vowel.
Confusing the pitch accent with 'kuro' (black).
Pronouncing 'ku' with too much aspiration.
Missing the 'u' at the end of 'rou'.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'kourou' (merit).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The kanji are common but require intermediate knowledge.

Writing 4/5

The character 労 can be tricky to write correctly.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but requires care with social status.

Listening 2/5

Very common word, easy to recognize in speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

苦しい (kurushii) 働く (hataraku) 大変 (taihen) 努力 (doryoku) 痛い (itai)

Learn Next

困難 (konnan) 忍耐 (nintai) 克服 (kokufuku) 報われる (mukuwareru) 恩 (on)

Advanced

辛苦 (shinku) 艱難辛苦 (kannanshinku) 不撓不屈 (futou-fukutsu) 臥薪嘗胆 (gashin-shoutan) 辛抱 (shinbou)

Grammar to Know

Noun + に苦労する

生活に苦労する。

Verb (Dictionary form) + のに苦労する

漢字を覚えるのに苦労する。

〜て苦労する (Cause/Reason)

お金がなくて苦労する。

Honorific 'Go' + 苦労

ご苦労をおかけしました。

Noun + の末に (After much...)

苦労の末に成功した。

Examples by Level

日本語の勉強は苦労します。

Studying Japanese is a struggle.

Using 'kurou suru' as a verb to mean 'to struggle'.

母は私を育てるのに苦労しました。

My mother worked hard to raise me.

The particle 'ni' indicates the purpose/area of hardship.

ご苦労様でした。

Thank you for your hard work (to a subordinate).

A set phrase used by superiors.

彼は生活に苦労しています。

He is struggling with daily life.

The particle 'ni' indicates what is causing the struggle.

この仕事は苦労が多いです。

There is a lot of hardship in this job.

'Kurou' used as a noun with the adjective 'ooi' (many).

苦労して山に登りました。

I climbed the mountain with great effort.

'Kurou shite' acts like an adverbial phrase.

父の苦労を知っています。

I know my father's hardships.

'Kurou' as the direct object of the verb 'shiru' (to know).

苦労はしたくないです。

I don't want to experience hardship.

A simple negative statement.

新しい言葉を覚えるのに苦労しています。

I am struggling to memorize new words.

'No ni' nominalizes the verb phrase.

親に苦労をかけたくありません。

I don't want to cause my parents trouble.

'Kurou o kakeru' is a common idiomatic expression.

彼は若い頃、ずいぶん苦労したそうです。

I heard he struggled a lot when he was young.

'Sou desu' indicates reported information.

苦労の末に、成功しました。

After much hardship, he succeeded.

'~no sue ni' means 'at the end of' or 'after much'.

この本を読むのは苦労でした。

Reading this book was a struggle.

'Kurou deshita' uses the noun as a predicate.

お金がなくて苦労しました。

I had a hard time because I had no money.

The '~te' form shows the reason for the hardship.

ご苦労をおかけして、すみません。

I am sorry for causing you trouble.

A formal apology using the honorific 'go'.

苦労した甲斐がありました。

It was worth the effort/hardship.

'~kai ga aru' means something was worth doing.

長年の苦労がようやく報われました。

Many years of hardship have finally been rewarded.

'Mukuwareru' is the passive form of 'mukuiru' (to reward).

彼は苦労を惜しまず、研究に励んだ。

He worked hard at his research without begrudging the hardship.

'Oshimazu' means 'without begrudging' or 'unsparingly'.

苦労を重ねて、今の地位を築いた。

He built his current position through repeated hardships.

'Kasanete' implies accumulating or layering experiences.

人知れず苦労している人も多い。

There are many people who struggle without anyone knowing.

'Hito-shirezu' is an adverb meaning 'secretly' or 'unnoticed'.

そんなに苦労しなくてもいいですよ。

You don't have to struggle that much.

'~nakute mo ii' expresses lack of necessity.

苦労話を聞くのは、いい勉強になります。

Listening to stories of hardship is a good learning experience.

'Kurou-banashi' is a compound noun.

彼は苦労性で、何でも自分でやろうとする。

He has a 'hardship nature' and tries to do everything himself.

'-shou' indicates a tendency or nature.

苦労の多い人生でしたが、後悔はありません。

It was a life full of hardship, but I have no regrets.

The sentence uses 'deshita ga' to contrast hardship and lack of regret.

創業期の苦労を語り継ぐことが大切だ。

It is important to pass down the stories of hardship from the founding period.

'Katari-tsugu' means to pass down a story through generations.

彼の成功の裏には、並々ならぬ苦労があった。

Behind his success, there was extraordinary hardship.

'Naminami-naranu' means 'extraordinary' or 'unusual'.

慣れない外国での生活は、苦労の連続だった。

Life in an unfamiliar foreign country was a series of hardships.

'~no renzoku' means a continuous series of something.

苦労を共にした仲間とは、強い絆で結ばれている。

I am tied by a strong bond to the comrades with whom I shared hardships.

'~o tomo ni suru' means to share or do something together.

資金の調達に苦労し、倒産の危機に瀕した。

He struggled to raise funds and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

'~ni hinsuru' means to be on the verge of something.

苦労が絶えない日々だが、希望は捨てていない。

The days are filled with constant hardship, but I haven't given up hope.

'~ga taenai' means something never ceases or ends.

彼は苦労を見せないように振る舞っている。

He behaves in a way that doesn't show his hardships.

'~youni furumau' means to behave in a certain manner.

苦労を乗り越えた先に、本当の喜びがある。

True joy lies beyond overcoming hardship.

'~o norikoeta saki ni' means 'beyond overcoming'.

先人の苦労の上に、私たちの豊かな生活がある。

Our prosperous lives exist upon the hardships of our predecessors.

'~no ue ni' indicates the foundation or basis.

彼は辛苦を舐めて、ようやくその真理に到達した。

He tasted every bitter toil and finally reached that truth.

'Shinku o nameru' is a more literary way to say experiencing hardship.

伝統を守るための苦労は、計り知れないものがある。

The hardships involved in preserving tradition are immeasurable.

'Hakari-shirenai' means immeasurable or beyond calculation.

苦労を厭わず、公益のために尽くす姿勢が求められる。

An attitude of serving the public good without begrudging hardship is required.

'~ni tsukusu' means to devote oneself to something.

人生の苦労を風情として捉える、日本的な美意識。

A Japanese aesthetic sense that perceives life's hardships as a kind of elegance.

'~to shite toraeru' means to perceive or regard as something.

苦労が顔に刻まれているが、その眼差しは鋭い。

Hardships are etched into his face, but his gaze remains sharp.

'Kizamarete iru' is the passive form of 'kizamu' (to engrave/etch).

多大なご苦労をおかけしたことを、深くお詫び申し上げます。

I deeply apologize for having caused you immense hardship.

Extremely formal humble language (Keigo).

苦労を伴わない成功は、往々にして脆いものである。

Success that does not involve hardship is often fragile.

'Ouou ni shite' is a formal way to say 'often' or 'frequently'.

苦労を昇華させて芸術へと変える、作家の執念。

The author's tenacity in sublimating hardship into art.

'Shouka saseru' means to sublimate or transform into something higher.

彼の半生は、まさに苦労の連続という他ない。

His life can only be described as a continuous series of hardships.

'~to iu hoka nai' means 'there is no other way to describe it but...'

苦労を分かち合うことで、共同体の結束は強固になる。

By sharing hardships, the unity of the community becomes solid.

'Wakachiau' means to share (something abstract).

如何なる苦労も、彼の不屈の精神を挫くことはできなかった。

No matter the hardship, it could not break his indomitable spirit.

'Ikanaru ~ mo' means 'no matter what kind of...'

苦労の末に掴み取った栄光こそが、真に輝かしい。

The glory seized after much hardship is what truly shines.

'Tsukami-totta' emphasizes the active struggle to grab something.

若いうちの苦労は買ってでもせよ、という諺がある。

There is a proverb that says you should even pay to experience hardship while young.

'Katte demo seyo' is a classic idiomatic construction.

苦労を顧みず、ひたすら理想を追い求めた。

He pursued his ideals single-mindedly, without looking back at the hardships.

'Kaerimizu' means 'without looking back' or 'disregarding'.

苦労の跡が随所に見受けられる、見事な仕上がりだ。

It is a splendid finish where traces of hardship can be seen everywhere.

'Mi-ukerareru' is a formal way to say 'can be seen'.

Synonyms

苦難骨折り労力困難

Antonyms

楽安逸

Common Collocations

苦労をかける

苦労を重ねる

苦労が絶えない

苦労を惜しまない

苦労が報われる

苦労を知る

苦労を厭わない

苦労を共にする

苦労を見せない

苦労の末に

Common Phrases

ご苦労様

— Used to thank someone for their work. Only for superiors to subordinates.

ご苦労様、今日はもう帰っていいよ。

苦労話

— A story about one's hardships. Often shared to inspire others.

彼の苦労話には感動した。

苦労性

— A personality trait where one worries or takes on burdens unnecessarily.

苦労性の母はいつも忙しそうだ。

苦労人

— A person who has experienced many hardships in life.

彼は苦労人だから、人の痛みがわかる。

苦労の種

— The cause or source of one's hardship.

放蕩息子は親の苦労の種だ。

苦労が絶えない

— To have endless troubles or difficulties.

あの家は苦労が絶えないね。

苦労を背負う

— To shoulder a burden or take on hardships.

若くして苦労を背負い込んだ。

苦労を労う

— To appreciate or reward someone's hard work.

選手の苦労を労う会を開く。

苦労を買う

— To intentionally seek out hardship (usually for self-improvement).

若いうちの苦労は買ってでもしろ。

苦労の跡

— Traces or evidence of the effort put into something.

この絵には苦労の跡が見える。

Often Confused With

苦労 vs 疲れ (tsukare)

Tsukare is physical fatigue; Kurou is the experience of struggle.

苦労 vs 心配 (shinpai)

Shinpai is mental worry; Kurou is active toil or hardship.

苦労 vs 大変 (taihen)

Taihen is an adjective for a tough situation; Kurou is the noun for the struggle.

Idioms & Expressions

"若いうちの苦労は買ってでもしろ"

— You should seek out hardship while you are young because it builds character.

若いうちの苦労は買ってでもしろと言うから、挑戦してみなさい。

Proverbial

"苦労の甲斐がある"

— To be worth the effort or hardship.

苦労した甲斐があって、一位になれた。

Common

"苦労を水に流す"

— To let past hardships go or forget them.

これまでの苦労を水に流して、再出発しよう。

Literary

"苦労を共にする"

— To share hardships with someone, building a strong bond.

私たちは苦労を共にした戦友だ。

Common

"苦労を厭わない"

— To not mind or avoid hardship for a greater goal.

成功のためなら、どんな苦労も厭わない。

Formal

"苦労が実を結ぶ"

— Hardship finally leads to a successful result.

十年の苦労がようやく実を結んだ。

Common

"苦労の末に"

— After a long period of struggle.

苦労の末に、夢のマイホームを手に入れた。

Common

"苦労を見せない"

— To endure hardship without letting others see the pain.

彼女は苦労を見せない強い人だ。

Common

"苦労をかける"

— To burden someone else with one's own problems.

これ以上、家族に苦労をかけたくない。

Common

"苦労が顔に出る"

— One's hardships are visible in their facial expression or appearance.

最近の彼は苦労が顔に出ている。

Common

Easily Confused

苦労 vs 努力 (doryoku)

Both involve working hard.

Doryoku is the positive action of trying; Kurou is the painful process of struggling through it.

合格のために努力したが、その過程で苦労した。

苦労 vs 困難 (konnan)

Both mean difficulty.

Konnan is an objective obstacle; Kurou is the personal experience of that obstacle.

経済的な困難を乗り越えるために苦労する。

苦労 vs 迷惑 (meiwaku)

Both can be 'caused' to others.

Meiwaku is an annoyance or nuisance; Kurou is a serious life burden or hardship.

騒音で迷惑をかける vs 親に苦労をかける。

苦労 vs 苦痛 (kutsuu)

Both involve suffering.

Kutsuu is physical or sharp mental pain; Kurou is ongoing toil or hardship.

足の苦痛 vs 生活の苦労。

苦労 vs 悩み (nayami)

Both involve trouble.

Nayami is a specific worry or mental conflict; Kurou is a broader state of hardship.

人間関係の悩み vs 借金での苦労。

Sentence Patterns

AはBに苦労する

私は日本語に苦労しています。

V(辞書形)のに苦労する

起きるのに苦労しました。

〜に苦労をかける

親に苦労をかけました。

苦労の末に〜

苦労の末に合格した。

苦労を惜しまず〜

苦労を惜しまず働く。

苦労が報われる

苦労が報われる日が来た。

苦労を厭わない

苦労を厭わない精神。

苦労を昇華させる

苦労を芸術に昇華させる。

Word Family

Nouns

苦労 (kurou) - Hardship

苦労話 (kuroubanashi) - Hardship story

苦労性 (kuroushou) - Hardship-prone nature

苦労人 (kurounin) - Experienced person

Verbs

苦労する (kurou suru) - To struggle

苦労させる (kurou saseru) - To make someone struggle

苦しい (kurushii) - Painful

労働 (roudou) - Labor

苦痛 (kutsuu) - Pain

苦悩 (kunou) - Suffering

苦境 (kukyou) - Difficult situation

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation, media, and business.

Common Mistakes

Using 'Gokurousama' to a superior. → Otsukaresama deshita.
Gokurousama is for superiors to subordinates. Using it to a boss is a major social faux pas.
Using 'kurou' for physical tiredness. → Tsukaremashita.
Kurou is the experience of hardship; tsukare is the feeling of being tired. You 'kurou' to finish a project, then you feel 'tsukare'.
Using the 'o' particle with 'kurou suru'. → 〜に苦労する
You don't 'do' hardship like an object; you struggle 'at' or 'in' it. Use 'ni' for the area of struggle.
Confusing 'kurou' with 'meiwaku'. → Kurou (for hardship), Meiwaku (for annoyance).
If you play loud music, it's 'meiwaku'. If your parents work three jobs for you, it's 'kurou'.
Thinking 'kurou' is only for bad things. → It can be for positive goals too.
You can 'kurou' to win a marathon or learn an instrument. It just means the path was hard.

Tips

Particle Choice

Always use 'ni' when specifying the subject of your struggle. For example, 'Shigoto ni kurou suru' is much more natural than using other particles.

The Gokurousama Rule

If you are a student or an employee, erase 'Gokurousama' from your vocabulary when speaking to teachers or bosses. 'Otsukaresama' is your safe bet.

Kurou vs. Doryoku

Use 'doryoku' when you want to sound motivated and positive. Use 'kurou' when you want to emphasize how difficult and painful the process was.

Compound Words

Learning compounds like 'kurou-banashi' or 'kurou-shou' will help you understand Japanese personality descriptions and media much better.

Value of Hardship

In Japan, saying you 'struggled' (kurou shita) isn't seen as a weakness. It's often seen as a sign of your dedication and sincerity (magokoro).

Verb Nominalization

Use 'no ni' to turn a whole sentence into the object of 'kurou suru'. Example: 'Nihon de tomodachi o tsukuru no ni kurou shita'.

Showing Empathy

Saying 'Gokurou desu ne' or 'Kurou shiteru ne' to a peer is a powerful way to show you understand their burden and are supporting them.

Narrative Structure

Start your success stories with the 'kurou' phase to make the 'seikou' (success) phase sound more earned and impressive to Japanese readers.

Enka and Drama

If you hear a song that sounds sad and mentions 'kurou,' it's likely about a couple or family staying together despite poverty or bad luck.

Buying Hardship

The phrase 'Katte demo seyo' (even if you have to buy it) is a great one to use when encouraging younger people to take on challenges.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'KU' as 'cry' and 'ROU' as 'rowing'. Imagine you are crying while rowing a heavy boat across a stormy sea. That's kurou!

Visual Association

Imagine a person carrying a heavy stone labeled with the kanji 苦労 up a steep, bitter-cold mountain.

Word Web

苦労 (hardship) 苦しい (painful) 労働 (labor) 努力 (effort) 困難 (difficulty) 成功 (success) 報われる (rewarded) 忍耐 (patience)

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about a time you experienced kurou in your own life using the patterns 'kurou suru' and 'kurou o norikoeru'.

Word Origin

The word originates from Middle Chinese roots. The character 苦 (ku) was used in Buddhist texts to describe the fundamental suffering of human existence. The character 労 (rou) comes from the image of a fire burning over a house, representing the energy and heat of labor.

Original meaning: Originally, it referred to the physical exhaustion caused by manual labor or the spiritual suffering described in religious texts.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

Be careful when asking someone about their 'kurou'; it can be a very personal and painful topic.

In English, we often focus on the 'achievement' or 'hustle,' while 'kurou' focuses more on the 'suffering' and 'endurance' aspect.

Enka songs (Japanese soul music) almost always mention 'kurou'. The movie 'Oshin' is the ultimate story of kurou. Traditional 'kurou-banashi' in Rakugo (comic storytelling).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Family

親に苦労をかける
子供を育てる苦労
苦労を共にする夫婦
祖父母の苦労

Work

ご苦労様でした
仕事で苦労する
プロジェクトの苦労
苦労を労う

Education

受験勉強で苦労する
漢字に苦労する
苦労して卒業する
先生の苦労

Success Stories

苦労の末の成功
苦労話を聞く
苦労が報われる
並々ならぬ苦労

Health

病気で苦労する
看病の苦労
苦労が絶えない生活
苦労が顔に出る

Conversation Starters

"今までで一番苦労したことは何ですか？ (What is the thing you've struggled with most until now?)"

"日本語を勉強する中で、何に一番苦労していますか？ (What are you struggling with most in your Japanese studies?)"

"ご両親の苦労について考えたことがありますか？ (Have you ever thought about your parents' hardships?)"

"苦労を乗り越えるために、どんなことをしていますか？ (What do you do to overcome hardships?)"

"「若いうちの苦労は買ってでもしろ」という言葉について、どう思いますか？ (What do you think about the saying 'You should even pay for hardship while young'?)"

Journal Prompts

最近、自分が苦労していることについて詳しく書いてください。 (Write in detail about something you are currently struggling with.)

苦労したけれど、やってよかったと思った経験は何ですか？ (What is an experience that was hard but you are glad you did?)

誰かに苦労をかけてしまった時の気持ちを思い出して書いてください。 (Recall and write about your feelings when you caused someone else hardship.)

十年後の自分に、今の苦労をどう伝えますか？ (How would you explain your current hardships to your self ten years from now?)

苦労が報われた瞬間の喜びについて書いてください。 (Write about the joy of the moment your hardships were rewarded.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should never use 'Gokurousama' to your boss. It is a phrase used by superiors to thank subordinates for their labor. Using it to a boss sounds condescending. Instead, use 'Otsukaresama deshita'.

'Taihen' is an adjective that describes a situation as difficult or serious (e.g., 'Shigoto wa taihen desu'). 'Kurou' is a noun that describes the hardship you personally experience (e.g., 'Shigoto de kurou shiteimasu').

Not necessarily. While it refers to hardship, experiencing 'kurou' is often seen positively in Japan as a way to build character and gain wisdom. The phrase 'kurou o kasaneru' can be a point of pride.

You should say 'Kanji ni kurou shiteimasu' or 'Kanji o oboeru no ni kurou shiteimasu'. Using the particle 'ni' is key.

It literally means 'hardship story.' It refers to a narrative where someone talks about the difficulties they overcame to achieve success. It is a very common genre of conversation in Japan.

Use it when you want to apologize for causing someone significant trouble or hardship, such as when your parents had to work extra jobs to pay for your school.

Generally, no. For physical pain, use 'itami' or 'kutsuu'. 'Kurou' is for the toil and hardship of a situation, though that situation might cause physical exhaustion.

A 'kurou-nin' is a person who has gone through many hardships in life and, as a result, has become wise, patient, and empathetic.

The word itself is neutral and used in all levels of speech. However, its honorific form 'go-kurou' is used in formal apologies or by superiors.

The most direct opposite is 'raku', which means ease or comfort. A common saying is 'Kurou no ato ni wa raku ga kuru' (After hardship comes ease).