suffer · bitter

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 苦 is read く, has 8 strokes, and relates to suffering or bitterness.
• Basic usage: 苦手 is read にがて, and 苦しい is read くるしい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 苦手 and 苦しい
  • 苦手 means not good at or weak point.
  • 私は人前で話すのが少し苦手だ。 means “I am not very good at speaking in front of people.”
  • 苦しい means painful or hard to breathe.
  • 坂道を走ったので息が苦しい。 means “I am out of breath because I ran up the hill.”