苦

suffering

JLPT N3 Grade 3 8 strokes

Kun'yomi: くる・にが
On'yomi: ク

苦 means "suffering". It is a JLPT N3 kanji written in 8 strokes. It is read くる・にが in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ク in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 3.

Example word

苦くるしい

painful

苦 in example sentences

めちゃ苦にがい。

Mecha nigai.

It's very bitter.
人生じんせいは苦くなり。

Jinsei wa kunari.

Life is hard.
猫ねこが苦手にがてなの。

Neko ga nigate na no.

I'm afraid of cats.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 苦

Common questions

What does the kanji 苦 mean?: 苦 means "suffering". It is a JLPT N3 kanji.
How many strokes does 苦 have?: 苦 is written in 8 strokes.
How is 苦 read?: It is read くる・にが in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ク in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 苦?: 苦 is a JLPT N3 kanji.

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