苦境（くきょう、kukyou）
- predicament

The Japanese word 苦境 （くきょう, *kukyō*) signifies a difficult situation, a predicament, a crisis, or a plight. It describes a state of hardship, adversity, or unfavorable circumstances. It implies that someone is facing challenges or obstacles that make it difficult to progress or succeed. The word conveys a sense of struggle, stress, and potential danger. It can apply to various contexts, from personal struggles to business challenges or international affairs.

⚫︎会社は経済的な苦境に陥っている。 Translation: The company is in a financial predicament. ⚫︎彼は人生の苦境を乗り越えた。 Translation: He overcame the hardships in his life. ⚫︎政治は苦境に直面している。 Translation: Politics is facing a crisis.

This word is appropriate for formal and informal situations. It can be used when discussing problems that are hard to solve or challenges that cause difficulties. You can use it to describe your situation or the situation of others. However, it's a relatively formal word compared to some synonyms.

苦境 is typically written in kanji 苦境. ⚫︎The reading is くきょう (kukyō) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎困難（こんなん, *konnan*) - Difficulty, hardship. ⚫︎窮地（きゅうち, *kyūchi*) - Predicament, a tight spot. ⚫︎危機（きき, *kiki*) - Crisis. ⚫︎ジレンマ（*jirenma*) - Dilemma. (loanword) ⚫︎難局（なんきょく, *nankyoku*) - Difficult situation.

⚫︎好機（こうき, *kōki*) - Good opportunity. ⚫︎好都合（こうつごう, *kōtsugō*) - Advantageous, convenient. ⚫︎有利な状況（ゆうりなじょうきょう, *yūri na jōkyō*) - Advantageous situation.

彼は長年の不況で会社の苦境を救うために必死に努力した。 ・Translation: He desperately worked to save the company from its predicament due to the long-term recession. ・Explanation: This sentence shows someone trying to solve a crisis.

そのチームは試合の終盤で苦境に立たされたが、見事に逆転勝利を収めた。 ・Translation: That team was put in a difficult situation at the end of the game, but remarkably achieved a comeback victory. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the team was put in a difficult situation at the end of the game.

The word 苦境 is a compound word. ⚫︎苦 (*ku*) means suffering, hardship, or pain. ⚫︎境 (*kyō*) means situation, condition, or circumstances. Therefore, the word literally means "suffering situation" or "situation of hardship".