茨の道

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 茨の道 (いばらのみち) is a compound noun for a thorny path, conventionally used as a metaphor for severe hardship.
• Basic usage: 独立するまで茨の道が続く figures a difficult path to independence, while 改革は茨の道になる figures the future of a hard reform as such a path.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Past course and anticipated hardship
  • 茨の道が続いた looks back on endured hardship, whereas 茨の道になる anticipates difficulty ahead. Neither example describes walking on a literal path of thorns.