苦渋

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 苦渋, read くじゅう, expresses inner anguish and conflict.
• Basic usage: Use it for emotionally painful decisions or anguished expressions.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A painful decision
  • The example's 苦渋の決断 is a decision made with emotional pain. It does not merely specify how long someone considered it.
• Hardship and anguish
  • 苦労 broadly covers effort and hardship, while 苦渋 focuses on inner distress.