苦渋

• 読み: くじゅう
• ローマ字: kujū
• 漢字の分解: 苦 (ku) — suffering, bitterness; 渋 (jū) — astringent, reluctant
• 発音: /kɯ.dʑɯ.ː/

意味

Bitterness; anguish; painful decision. The deeply unpleasant feeling of being forced to choose between difficult options or endure hardship.

A noun most commonly encountered in the set phrase 苦渋の決断 (a painful, bitter decision) — a decision made under great duress with no good options. It evokes physical as well as emotional suffering, drawing on the sense of biting into something astringent. Used prominently in political and business contexts when announcing difficult choices.

例文

1. 会社は苦渋の決断として、工場閉鎖を発表した。
2. 彼女の顔には苦渋の色が浮かんでいた。
3. 二者択一の中で苦渋を味わいながら、決断を下した。

使い方ガイド

場面: business decisions, politics, personal hardship

トーン: serious

起源と歴史

From 苦 (ku) meaning 'suffering' or 'bitterness' and 渋 (jū) meaning 'astringent' or 'reluctant.' Together they capture the harsh, unpleasant quality of enduring pain with no easy relief.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal