理解に苦しむ

• 読み: りかいにくるしむ
• ローマ字: rikai ni kurushimu
• 漢字の分解: 理 (ri) — reason, logic; 解 (kai) — to understand, to unravel; 苦 (ku/kuro) — suffering; 苦しむ (kurushimu) — to struggle, to suffer
• 発音: /ɾi.ka.i.ni.kɯ.ɾɯ.ɕi.mɯ/

意味

To find it hard to understand; to be puzzled by; to struggle to comprehend. Expresses genuine bewilderment at something that seems inexplicable.

A verbal phrase combining 理解 (rikai — understanding) with に苦しむ (to suffer in, to struggle with). It conveys a stronger sense of perplexity than simply 分からない — the speaker is not merely ignorant but actively wrestling with something that defies comprehension. Often carries a tone of mild exasperation or disbelief.

例文

1. なぜ彼がそんな選択をしたのか、今でも理解に苦しむ。
2. この政策の意図するところは理解に苦しむ部分が多い。
3. 相手の行動の意図が理解に苦しみ、返答に詰まってしまった。

使い方ガイド

場面: reasoning, debate, criticism, policy discussion, personal frustration

トーン: perplexed

起源と歴史

Formed from 理解 (rikai — comprehension, from Classical Chinese 理解 meaning to untangle principles) and 苦しむ (kurushimu — to suffer, to struggle, from 苦 meaning hardship or pain). The phrase treats understanding as a task that causes suffering when it cannot be achieved.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: General