trouble · anguish

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 悩 has 10 strokes, the on-reading のう, and the kun-readings なやむ and なやます. 悩む (なやむ) means to worry or struggle with something.
• Basic usage: 悩む describes being troubled; 悩み (なやみ) names the worry or problem troubling someone.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Being troubled and the problem itself
  • 進学先をどこにするか悩んでいる means being unsure which school to attend. 一人で悩まず appears in the example about seeking advice instead of worrying alone.
  • 進路の悩み refers to a worry about one's future path. 悩みを抱えず is used in the sentence about trying to talk to a friend instead of carrying the worry alone.