四苦八苦

しくはっく

Meanings

1. Noun, する verb, Intransitive being in dire distress; being hard put to it; being hard pressed (for money)
2. Noun the four and eight kinds of suffering (birth, old age, disease, death, parting from loved ones, meeting disliked ones, not getting what one seeks, pains of the five skandha) See also: 四苦 (しく). See also: 八苦 (はっく).

Kanji

• 四 four. Read as シ.
• 苦 suffer. Read as ク.
• 八 eight. Read as ハチ.

Example sentences

• レポートを書くのに四苦八苦した。
  I had a very hard time writing the paper.
• 時々、英語を話すのに四苦八苦するよ。
  Sometimes I struggle to speak English.
• 時々、フランス語を話すのに四苦八苦するよ。
  Sometimes I struggle to speak French.
• 多くの生徒が、学校の数学で四苦八苦します。
  A lot of students struggle with math in school.

Word lists

• Yojijukugo (四字熟語)

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists