noun, takes する, intransitive verb

  1. (mental) agony, anguish, suffering, distress.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
苦悩 くのう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

suffering, trial, worry
ク くる.しい にが.い (3rd, N3)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
old
コ ふる.い ふゆ (2nd, N4)
ten
ジュウ ジッ ジュッ (1st, N5)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
trouble, worry, in pain
なや.む ノウ なやみ (7th, N2)
heart, standing heart radical variant (no. 61)
シン こころ
villain, evil, bad luck
キョウ (7th, N1)
mow, cut grass, subdue
ガイ ゲ おさ.める (Kentei 1)
open box enclosure, open box radical (no. 17)
カン (Kentei 1)