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苦
苦 (readings: く, くる, にが; Japanese kanji) means “suffering / bitter”. It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 苦手 (not good at).
What does 苦 mean?
| Kanji | 苦 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | suffering / bitter |
| Readings | く, くる, にが |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 苦
苦 is read く or くる or にが depending on the word.
Example words with 苦
| Example | 苦手 (not good at) |
|---|
Practice writing 苦 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14