つらみ

• Reading: つらみ
• Romaji: tsurami
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ɾa.mi/

Meaning

The feeling or vibe of suffering, hardship, or emotional pain — a softer, more sharable way to express つらい (tough/painful).

つらみ uses the 〜み suffix trend to turn つらい (painful, tough) into an abstract feeling-noun. Rather than directly saying 'I'm suffering,' つらみ frames the emotion as something external and almost relatable — like sharing a mood rather than making a complaint. Very popular on social media as a low-key way to express hardship, often with a hint of humor or self-deprecation.

Examples

1. 残業3時間、つらみが深い。 Three hours of overtime — the suffering runs deep.
2. つらみ〜、推しのライブ落選した。 The pain~ I lost the lottery for my fave's concert.
3. 月曜の朝のつらみ、誰かわかって。 Monday morning suffering — someone please understand.

Usage Guide

Context: texting, social media, friends

Tone: self-deprecating, empathetic, soft

Do Say

• テスト勉強つらみ… (Studying for exams is suffering...)
• つらみしかない月曜日 (A Monday that's nothing but pain)

Don't Say

• 深刻な相談で「つらみ」は軽く聞こえる (Using 'tsurami' when someone is sharing serious problems sounds too light — use つらいね or 大変だね)

Common Mistakes

• Using つらみ in genuinely serious emotional contexts where it might trivialize the situation
• Confusing it with the standard noun つらさ, which is formal and neutral

Origin & History

Formed by applying the 〜み nominalizing suffix to つらい (painful/tough). Part of the mid-2010s 〜み suffix boom on Twitter. つらみ became one of the most iconic examples of this trend.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-2010s 〜み suffix trend

Generation: Teens to 20s

Social background: Internet culture, youth

Regional notes: Used nationwide in online communication. One of the most recognizable words from the 〜み trend.