苦 — Suffering
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 苦 (Suffering)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 苦 (Suffering)
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A taste that brings you suffering (苦) is usually bitter.
If your hand (skill) (手) is suffering (苦) while doing something, you're probably poor at it.
This is just the verb form of suffering (苦), meaning to suffer.
Frequently Asked Questions About 苦 (Suffering)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 苦 (Suffering)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 苦 ("Suffering", read as く) is: Even with cool ruby (く or くる) flowers planted by a lady with knee guards (にが), if there is a grave, there is suffering... Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 苦 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 苦 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 苦 means "Suffering". Its primary reading is く (On'yomi: く; Kun'yomi: くる, にが). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 苦?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 苦 include: 苦い (にがい - bitter), 苦手 (にがて - poor (at), weak (in), dislike (of)), 苦しむ (くるしむ - to suffer, to groan, to be worried).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 苦 (Suffering) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 苦 (Suffering) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.